The names have been released of the two people who perished in a rural Riverside house fire that occurred earlier this month.

The Washington County Communications Center states that the two deceased residents have been identified as 79-year-old John Henry Downer and 53-year-old Noel Edmond Downer, both of 1047 Vine Avenue. Six fire departments reported to the single-story house fire that occurred in the early morning of January 8th. It was determined the fire originated in the basement causing a partial collapse of the first floor. Crews located one victim on the first floor and removed him from the house, while the second victim was later found in the basement under the collapse. The deceased were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, and the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. KCII will bring you more information as it becomes official.