Police said that Cecil Williams, 923 Pleasant, died in the accident, which occurred about 4:30 p.m.

“We don’t know whether the lawnmower caught on fire and he tried to put it out. We don’t know,” said police Chief Kenny Carpenter.

The state fire marshal’s office was called to investigate.

The accident apparently occurred in a shed behind Williams’ home.

“The shed didn’t burn,” Carpenter said.

However, some materials inside the small building did catch on fire, he said.

Williams and his wife lived at the home for about a year.