Two people died in a house fire south of Washington early Saturday morning. According to the Washington County Communications Office, at 2:30 a.m. emergency officials were notified of a house fire at 2687 Wayland Road, near the Coppock Road turnoff.

The Washington and Wayland Fire Departments extinguished the fire, and Washington County Ambulance, Washington County Rescue, Washington County Sheriff’s personnel, Washington Police Department, and the State Fire Marshal’s office also responded to the scene.

There were two fatalities confirmed at the scene by the Washington County Medical Examiner, 58-year-old Sherry Lynn Bertsch and 66-year-old Michael Lee Shannan. The Jones Eden Funeral Home and Alliant Energy also assisted at the scene. The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s Office.