The state fire marshal's office is investigating a fire this morning at the Lyle Motel in which three people were found dead.

Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon said his firefighters received a call just after 2 a.m. that an upstairs apartment at the motel was on fire.

"They discovered the fatalities almost immediately upon entry," Runyon said.

Ironton Police Department Capt. Chris Bowman said the victims were two males and one female. Their names were not released Monday morning.

Runyon said the occupants of the other apartments escaped the fire; two other apartments sustained smoke damage and electricity was shut off in the building pending an inspection of the wiring.

Runyon said the cause of the blaze is under investigation. In addition to the fire marshal's office and the two city agencies, the Lawrence County Prosecutor's Office is also involved in the investigation.