A Portage man died early Christmas morning after a fire in his home, officials said.

The Porter County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Douglas Pennington, 55. The coroner’s office was sent around 2 a.m. Dec. 25 to Pennington’s home in the 5000 block of Central Avenue and he was found after the fire was extinguished. An autopsy is pending.

Portage Fire Chief Randy Wilkening said firefighters were called to the scene around 1:30 a.m. Other family members who lived nearby said Pennington, who was alone, was inside the house.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Wilkening said, adding that because it involved a death, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called to assist.

Firefighters remained on the scene until about 6:30 a.m.

Assisting with the fire were the Burns Harbor, South Haven and Liberty Township fire departments.