Crews work to extinguish a fatal house fire in Washington Friday. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

The victim of a house fire in Washington early Friday has been identified. The person who died was 74-year-old Gladys Marie Beenblossom of Washington. The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.

At 4:20 a.m. Friday, the Washington County Communications Center received multiple reports that the top level of the house at 609 East Washington Street was fully engulfed in flames. Washington and Ainsworth Fire Departments extinguished the fire and Washington County Ambulance, Washington County Sheriff’s personnel, Alliant Energy and Washington Police Department also responded to the scene. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted.