Four bodies found after fire in Virginia house

Firefighters work to recover four bodies from a two-story house damaged by a fire in Herndon, Virginia, on Thursday

HERNDON, Virginia (CNN) -- Police are investigating the deaths of four people, including two children, whose bodies were found Thursday inside a partially burned house in the Washington suburb of Herndon, Virginia.

The names of the dead were not immediately available and authorities would not specify how they died. "No resuscitation efforts were made because of the obvious condition of the victims," said Fairfax County Battalion Chief Leonard Murry. He would not elaborate.

The blaze, in a residential area about 10 miles west of Washington, was reported about 8 a.m. and was extinguished a few minutes later, authorities said. The cause has not been determined.

The upper floor of the two-story colonial-style home showed signs of fire damage. In addition, the roof of the attached two-car garage was caved in.

Bodies removed from the home and placed on the front lawn were covered with white sheets.

Police erected a barricade to block the scene from the view of neighbors and reporters who gathered on the street.

CNN Producer Brad Wright and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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