The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a suspicious fire that killed a 57-year-old man in Ritchie County.

It happened around 1:20 Saturday afternoon on Mellin Ridge Road near Harrisville.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Mackey Ayersman says that Terry Echard died when his mobile home caught fire.

Ayersman says neighbors extinguished the fire before crews arrived, but Echard suffered from multiple sclerosis and had difficulty walking.

Echard's body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's office in Charleston for an autopsy.