ST. MARYS — The West Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a Pleasants County man who reportedly shot at emergency personnel responding to a fire on his property Sunday.

Officers returned fire but an autopsy is planned “to determine the exact cause of death,” said 1st Sgt. Okey Starsick, with the Parkersburg state police detachment.

Kenneth W. Brewer, 74, was found dead after a fire was extinguished in the structure from which he shot at first responders as they were putting out another fire at a nearby trailer, Starsick said.

“Responders at the scene indicated he had set both fires, but it’s still under investigation,” he said.

Around 7 p.m. Sunday, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to 3593 Federal Ridge Road “a few miles outside of St. Marys” and found a mobile home engulfed in flames, Starsick said. Brewer was on the scene at the time and, as the fire was being put out, he re-entered a cabin on the property, believed to be his primary residence.

He began firing a gun from an upstairs window of the cabin in the direction of the emergency personnel, Starsick said. Officers on scene “returned fire at Mr. Brewer,” he said.

Pleasants County Sheriff Chuck Mankins said two deputies from his office and a St. Marys Police officer were at the scene. He declined further comment, citing the state police investigation.

After the exchange of gunfire, emergency personnel noticed the cabin was on fire as well, Starsick said. That fire was extinguished before they entered the residence.

“Shortly after, Mr. Brewer was found deceased upstairs,” Starsick said.

Brewer’s body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy, he said.

Starsick said he did not have information at this time on why Brewer began shooting.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fires.

Once the shooting investigation is completed, Starsick said the information will be turned over to the Pleasants County Prosecutor’s Office, which is expected to present it to a grand jury. That is standard procedure for fatalities involving law enforcement officers, he said.