Authorities found human remains inside a Lopez Island home in the aftermath of a fire and series of explosions that lit up the Mud Bay Road neighborhood in the early morning hours of Monday.

Although the body was burned beyond recognition, according to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department, the remains are believed to be that of the homeowner.

“The only thing we can say for sure right now is that there was a fire and that there was a person inside,” Sheriff Ron Krebs said. “It was a very hot fire.”

Krebs said the home was completely destroyed. He described the building, at 3146 Mud Bay Road, as a two-plus bedroom home that’s somewhat larger in size than a cabin.

The owner of the home is John Robert Droubay, according to county assessor records.

Krebs said that officers are working with presumed family members of the deceased so the body can be properly identified. DNA samples are being provided to aid in the identification, he said.

Firefighters, deputies and emergency medical personnel to the scene after receiving a 911 call at about 1:30 a.m. Monday. The caller reportedly alerted dispatchers about the fire and series of loud explosions.

According the sheriff’s department, an initial investigation at the scene revealed nothing that appeared “suspicious” in nature.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and a forensics investigation of the remains will be conducted by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner, Krebs said.

Mud Bay is located at southeast end of the island, near the area known as Islandale. Mud Bay Road is the primary route connecting the south end to Lopez Village, the island’s commercial core and cultural center.

— Scott Rasmussen