Man Found Dead at Brush Fire Scene Identified

The man who was found dead at the scene of a brush/structure fire in the 2500 block of Apple Street, Lower Saucon Township, Monday, has been identified by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek as 72-year-old Patrick McChesney Sr., the Express-Times reported.

McChesney lived at 2583 Apple Street, where he was reportedly known for keeping a personal Corvette collection.

According to the newspaper, Lysek is still working to determine whether McChesney’s death was due to natural causes or as a result of the fire.

Numerous fire companies from Northampton, Lehigh and Bucks counties responded to the brush fire, which broke out in the early afternoon on a day when gusty winds and low humidity created ideal wildfire conditions.

At one point several acres were reported to be ablaze, but the fire was brought under control by mid-afternoon.

Late Monday afternoon, at McChesney’s home–in a rural area near Lower Saucon Road–fire scene investigators from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources could be scene working and taking photographs near areas of scorched grass.