A house fire near Rehobeth claimed the life of a young man early this morning.

Twenty-six-year-old Mark Meredeth was in the home just after midnight when neighbors say they heard small explosions coming from next door.

Firefighters were on the scene for several hours after the start of the fire. According to law enforcement the preliminary determination is the fire started on the stove.

Family members say Mark worked long hours in the heat Tuesday and may have fallen asleep while cooking.

At this time the state fire marshals office will continue to investigate the cause of the fire.