UPDATED FRIDAY 11 A.M.

Two people died Thursday in an early morning fire on Elma Hicklin Road East in McCleary.

The blaze started just before 3 a.m. in a carport at the residence, according to a statement from Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Steve Shumate. Despite efforts to contain the fire by the person reporting it, it quickly spread to the house. Firefighters were able to knock down the flames and subsequently discovered the two bodies, said Shumate.

Shumate said the bodies have been tentatively identified as an adult male and female, both from McCleary. Friday morning, family members of the two people believed to have been killed in the fire were notified, “However, our agency will not be providing the names of the victims until their identities have been confirmed,” said Shumate.

“Fire investigators from the Sheriff’s Office are on scene conducting an investigation,” he said Thursday. “A request for assistance was also made to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (They) have the experience and resources we need when dealing with a fatal fire of unknown cause.”

“We initially had concerns when only one body was found and there was a possibility of the second person being responsible for the fire,” said Shumate. “But unfortunately the second person was found as well. So at this point, I am not being told of any suspicious issues, but we just don’t know yet.”

Shumate offered a brief update late Friday morning. Deputies continued their investigation with assistance from the Aberdeen and Hoquiam police departments and the Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force. The cause and nature of the fire remain unknown.