ROME, NY - Four adults died in a house fire on Route 69 in the outer district of Rome Tuesday night.

The Oneida County 911 Center reports the fire started just before 9:00 p.m. When the Rome Fire Department arrived on scene there were flames and heavy smoke coming from the home.

Firefighters were initially unable to enter the residence to fight the fire. The house was completely destroyed by the flames.

The victims were four family members – two parents and two adult children. Two were found in a bedroom, and two in another section of the house.

The Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office will be conducting autopsies on the deceased. The sheriff's office says it will provide more information, along with the names of the victims, when identification has been confirmed.

For much of Wednesday afternoon, Route 69 in Rome was down to one lane of traffic. The sheriff's office is asking drivers to avoid the area while crews work at the fire scene.