A late night fire claimed a man's life and destroyed a small utility building Thursday in Martinsville, officials said.

Crews were called about 11:30 p.m. to the back yard of an empty house in the 1000 block of East Church Street, near Martinsville Urgent Care. When they arrived, they found flames engulfing a structure they believe was a garage or storage building. It was destroyed by the blaze.

Fire officials said they found the body of a man on the floor of the building. They also found a garbage can nearby, which they believe was the source of the fire. The building had no gas or electricity and investigators think someone, possibly the victim, started a fire in the trash can, which eventually ignited the structure.

Martinsville spokesman Scott Coleman said the victim is thought to have died from smoke inhalation, but medical examiners are working to determine both the man's identity and the cause of his death.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Fire Marshal Ted Anderson at (276) 403-5325.

-- Neil Harvey