MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Mendocino County Sheriff’s officials are investigating a structure fire that claimed two lives Saturday morning.

Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said that at 8:10 a.m. Saturday Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Officers were dispatched to 10580 Main St. in Potter Valley to assist Potter Valley Fire and Cal Fire with a fully engulfed residential structure fire.

On arrival deputies learned that family members had vacated the residence during the fire, but possibly two victims remained inside and were unaccounted for, Smallcomb said. Deputies then contacted detectives who responded to the location.

During the fire investigation, two victims were located inside the burnt structure, Smallcomb said.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s detectives along with Cal Fire investigators are continuing the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire along with identifying the two deceased victims, he said.

Smallcomb said additional information about the case will be released in the coming week.