SAN DIEGO - Rescuers involved in extinguishing a boat fire discovered the body of a man inside in the early morning hours of Feb. 15.

The victim was identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiners office as 52-year-old Allen L. Simmons. Simmons apparently lived aboard the 30-foot vessel at Driscoll's Wharf at the 4900 block of North Harbor Drive, according to San Diego Harbor Police.

The San Diego Fire Department was alerted by a boater who noticed the flames at about 3 a.m. By the time the fire was extinguished, the boat was partly submerged. Harbor Police divers discovered the body at approximately 7 a.m.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's office concluded that the cause of death was accidental. "The victim died of inhaled products of combustion related to fire in the boat," a medical examiner stated.

Owing to extensive damage to the 1982 Starfish houseboat, firefighters were not able to discern the cause of the blaze. The boat was valued at approximately $90,000, according to Maurice Luque of San Diego Fire Rescue.

No other injuries were reported. One nearby boat was threatened, but was saved when firefighters doused the houseboat.