West Virginia State Police and the State Fire Marshal are investigating a fire that killed three people while destroying this home near Hundred late Monday.

State Police and Fire Marshal’s Office investigators believe the Monday evening blaze that claimed three lives at a secluded Wetzel County home is suspicious in origin.

According to State Police Sgt. J.E. Shriver, residents Carmen McDougal, 55, and Michael McDougal, 63, died in the fire at their home on Cliff Run Road.

An unidentified man also died in the fire. Shriver said he would not release that person’s name late Tuesday.

“We believe the third person was an acquaintance of the residents,” Shriver said.

The McDougals’ home was the only house on the very narrow, bumpy and muddy road near the community of Littleton in rural Wetzel County.

Shriver said firefighters and emergency workers could not reach the home with their normal vehicles late Monday, as they had to resort to pulling a hose to the scene to douse the fire.

“They did the best they could,” Shriver said. “Even if they would have made it there 10 minutes earlier, it still would have been gone. It was completely engulfed.”

The structure and some nearby vehicles were completely destroyed. Although officials said a preliminary investigation showed the cause of the fire to be suspicious, they said no official determination had been made late Tuesday.

According to the marshal’s office, any information leading to the arrest and conviction of an arson suspect may result in a reward up to $5,000. The arson hotline number is 1-800-233-3473.