Six Family Members Killed In House Fire

Six family members have been killed in a fast-spreading house fire in Syracuse, New York, authorities say.

The blaze on the city's north side was reported shortly before 4am on Friday, the Syracuse Fire Department said.

A neighbour told the Syracuse Post-Standard she "heard a boom" about an hour after she returned home from work.

"I looked out the window and could see smoke and the flames up over the roof. I called 911 right away," Sebira Pehlic told the newspaper.

Responding firefighters tried to enter the front of the burning two-storey home, but were forced to retreat when the porch roof collapsed, officials said.

Syracuse Fire Chief Paul Linnertz said it took about 30 minutes to put out the blaze.

When firefighters entered the home they found two bodies downstairs and four bodies upstairs.

A seventh person escaped the blaze and was taken to hospital. There was no immediate update on the individual's condition.

Officials have not identified the victims, saying only that they were all members of the same family.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.