SIX MILE — A Six Mile man was found dead last week after an early-morning fire at the Main Street commercial building in which he was living.

James Stewart Pitts, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire at 105 North Main St. on Feb. 25, Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley said.

At approximately 3:07 a.m. that morning, a passing motorist noticed what they believed to be smoke coming from the building. The Six Mile Fire Department responded and upon arrival found Pitts unconscious inside the structure.

Pitts was removed to the exterior of the building as firefighters proceeded to extinguish the fire, which was actively burning a portion of the building. The building was not totally destroyed as a result of the fire.

According to Kelley, the results of an autopsy on Pitts did not indicate anything suspicious.

However, agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are assisting detectives from the Pickens Counyt Sheriff’s Office with the investigation into the fire, according to sheriff’s office chief deputy Creed Hashe.

Hashe said there were no obvious signs of foul play, and forensics tests were being conducted in an effort to further identify the cause and origin of the fire.

Pitts had been living in the building, where he sold antiques, for several months and was the only person inside the building at the time of the fire, officials said.