A fire destroyed a house that served as a group home for homeless, troubled or disabled people, killing four people and injuring at least one, authorities said.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building when they were summoned Tuesday evening. Two people were found dead inside the house and two others died at the hospital, Fire Chief Russell Brooks said.

Utica Public Safety Commissioner Daniel LaBella said one person jumped from a second-floor balcony and was taken to a hospital. He said the owner of the house reported that seven people lived on the second floor and two lived on the first floor.

Names of the victims were not immediately released.

"I'm just devastated," said Donna Marano, who owns the house. "I've been doing this for 23 years. These people are like family to me."

Fire officials returned to the scene early Wednesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire - the city's deadliest in 17 years.

Residents Wayne Clulo and Tom Kozdra said they heard an explosion inside the house as they were escaping.