JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) – Two people are dead after a Mt. Vernon house fire.

When fire crews arrived at the scene near the intersection of 24th Street and Wescott Street around 5:45 a.m. Sunday, the home was completely engulfed and the home next door was beginning to catch. It took about five hours to put out the blaze.

In addition to the two deaths, one person in the home was severely burned.

The fire is currently under investigation.