The investigation continues into the cause of the fire that claimed the life of a Beaver man Wednesday morning.

Carl Edwin Moon, 68, of 555 Horton Road, Beaver, was inside his residence - a mobile home - when the fire broke out at about 2 a.m.

Pike County Sheriff Larry D. Travis reported his office responded to the fire, and upon the arrival of his officers and Beaver Fire Department, Travis said they found Moon's body inside.

Travis said Moon was dead at the scene, and was pronounced dead by Pike County Coroner, Dr. David Kessler.

"His body was transferred to Hamilton County for an autopsy," he said.

Beaver Fire Department Chief Wayne Jayne said Beaver Fire Department worked strictly as a backup unit, and Stockdale Fire Department had been first respondent.

There was no answer at Stockdale Fire Department.

"The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating it, and we are trying to come up with a cause of the fire," Travis said. "It was a total loss."

Dennis Ginty of Ohio Department of Commerce, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal's Office, said, "The State Fire Marshal's Office, along with the Pike County Sheriff and the local fire department, continue to investigate the fire in Beaver, in Pike County. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined."

Ginty then asked for assistance from the public.

"The State Fire Marshal's Office investigators are asking anyone with information on the fire to contact either the Pike County Sheriff or the State Fire Marshal," he said.

Ginty said the State Fire Marshal's Office toll free number is (800) 589-2728.

He said Moon's death was the 104th fire fatality in the state of Ohio in 2008.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Cox Funeral Home in Beaver.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.