Crime & Safety

Police: Careless Smoking Caused Fatal Fire

The Lehigh County Coroner ruled the deaths of two brothers as accidents, based on the findings of police and fire marshalls.

The at 1920 Walbert Ave. that killed two brothers started by careless smoking, South Whitehall police said Thursday.

Michael Hutchison, 48, and his younger brother, Russell L. Hutchison, 43, had been pulled from the second floor of their burning home by firefighters early on Wednesday.

In a release, South Whitehall police did not specify who might have been smoking.

Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Also, the investigation showed no evidence of any working smoke detectors in the home, police said.

The brothers were later pronounced dead, just 13 minutes apart, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim has said the men died from smoke inhalation.

Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Thursday, Grim ruled their deaths as accidents, based on the findings of the police and fire marshalls.

Officials have said the fire broke out prior to 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday.

A passer-by who was driving home from work saw smoke coming from a second-floor air conditioner at the Hutchisons' home, called 9-1-1 and alerted neighbors, according to a report in The Morning Call. A dog was also killed in the blaze, the report said.

The township's three volunteer fire departments -- ,  and . -- were among the fire departments responding to the three-alarm blaze.

The fire was investigated by South Whitehall police and firefighters, the Lehigh County Coroner's office, Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Fire Department (K-9).

The home is next door to the vacant  restaurant, where firefighters battle a blaze last October. 

The coroner's office is seeking information on the Hutchisons' next of kin. Anyone with information is asked to call the coroner's office at 610-782-3426.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from South Whitehall