ESCONDIDO, Calif. » A San Diego County man has died after being attacked by bees.

A sheriff’s statement says deputies and firefighters responded to a report Thursday afternoon of a man who had been stung multiple times while working on his property in Valley Center northeast of Escondido.

Firefighters attempted to save the 67-year-old’s life, but he died at the scene.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Lauhon tells KNSD-TV that the man was conducting a legal controlled burn on the property to clear out brush and rubbish and the smoke disturbed a beehive. Lauhon says the man continued to work after he was first stung, then collapsed.

It’s not clear how many bees were involved, but Lauhon says it didn’t appear to be a large swarm.

The county medical examiner will investigate the man’s death.