According to Stephensburg Fire Chief Richard Peters, 48-year-old Kenneth Pence was found dead in his home (located near the Grayson-Hardin County line) after firefighters from the Stephensburg and White Mills Volunteer Fire Departments arrived on the scene shortly after 9 a.m.
Peters said the fire was contained to a closet area next to Pence's bedroom and "the rest of the house had sustained heavy smoke and water damage."
"The fire," Peters said, was "reported by Pence's neighbor."
Pence, who reportedly suffered from lung cancer, lived alone and his neighbor had been checking on him for several weeks due to his health.
According to Peters, the neighbor had reportedly been over at Pence's house earlier in the morning and had been home for about an hour when she noticed smoke coming from Pence's residence.
Firefighters found Pence dead in his bedroom.
Peters said preliminary results from an autopsy performed on Pence by the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office point to smoke inhalation as the cause of death.
Preliminary findings from the State Fire Marshall's office and the Hardin County Fire Investigator indicate that an "electrical problem in the house" may have been responsible for the Tuesday morning fire.
The Stephensburg FD and the White Mills FD were on the scene for about two hours, Peters reported.
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