A 54-year-old man found dead this afternoon in his Ypsilanti Township home is believed to have died of smoke inhalation from a chair fire that extinguished itself, investigators said.

The fire started sometime after 6:30 p.m. Thursday, which is when one of the man's friends left after stopping to check on him, township Fire Chief Eric Copeland said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it's believed to be accidental, Copeland said. The man's name has not been released.

A maintenance worker found the man's body about 4 p.m. at the Elmcrest mobile home community on Prescott Street, Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said.

The worker was contacted by the man's friend, who checked on him this afternoon and found damage from the fire, said Derrick Jackson, the sheriff department's director of community engagement. She did not see the body when she stopped by, Jackson said.

The man's body was found four feet inside the front door and did not show any outward injuries caused by the fire, Copeland said. Neighbors said the man suffered from health problems and lived alone.

An autopsy has not yet been conducted. Records from Jan. 1 indicate all units in the park had two smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher, Copeland said.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at (734) 623-2527 and leehiggins@annarbor.com.