Firefighters responding to a report of burning cars at a dealership in Ligonier early yesterday morning discovered the body of the dealership's owner in the lot.

According to the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office, Gregory C. Graham, 61, owner of Graham Colonial Motors on State Route 711, about a mile from downtown Ligonier, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:04 a.m., about two hours after the fires were reported to police.

Evidence of trauma or foul play was not immediately evident but could not be ruled out, the coroner's office said. An autopsy was scheduled for last night.

Emergency crews responding to the dealership just after 2 a.m. found four burning cars, lined up in a customer parking area across from the dealership's body shop. Alongside the burning cars were three other cars that had their right rear windows broken. Those vehicles -- a Pontiac G6, a Buick Lacrosse and a Buick Enclave -- smelled of gasoline inside.

Another six new vehicles sat nearby, undamaged, their dealer stickers still visible in the windows.

"This is rather unusual," Ligonier police Chief Michael Matrunics told reporters. "We've never had a situation like this."

The body of Mr. Graham was found after the flames were extinguished.

Local residents said Mr. Graham and his wife, Cindy, a teacher at Ligonier Middle School, were a friendly, outgoing couple who often could be found dancing on weekend nights at Cool Springs Express, a restaurant and bar on Route 711, near the auto dealership.

Cheryl Huskey, a bartender there, said the couple was in Saturday night and appeared to be in high spirits, dressed up and dancing after enjoying a Valentine's Day dinner of crab cakes.

"I've been here 20-some years, and [the dealership] has always been there," said Jamie Davies, co-owner of the restaurant with her husband, Ron. "They would come in on weekend nights when we had the DJ, and they always danced. They always seemed to be having a great time."

A woman who answered the door at the Grahams' home on Ridgeview Drive declined to comment.