LULING — State Fire Marshal investigators said smoking in bed may have caused a fatal Luling fire that claimed the life of a 62-year-old man Wednesday afternoon.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to 312 Canal St. where parish firefighters were dispatched to a residential fire shortly before 2 p.m. after a homeowner, Debra Welch, 62, called 911 to report her home was on fire.

Firefighters later located the body of George Welch, also 62 years old, in the master bedroom, which was severely damaged as a result of the fire.

In a statement to investigators, Debra Welch said she smelled smoke before her home’s smoke alarms began to sound. Welch further said she traced the origin of the smoke to a corner of the living room where a portable oxygen tank was located. The living room was adjacent to the master bedroom.

Welch noted the top of the oxygen tank, which was present to assist her husband who suffers from COPD, was smoldering.

After entering the bedroom, Welch discovered a small fire burning an edge of the bed mattress where her husband was lying, unresponsive. When attempts to extinguish the fire failed, Welch attempted to remove her husband but was unable to do so. She was then forced to exit the home after the fire and volume of smoke increased.

Debra Welch was later treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation before returning to her home.

After being examined by investigators, the body of George Welch was released to St. Charles Parish authorities for an autopsy.

While a formal determination as to the cause of the fire has not been confirmed, investigators have established the origin of the fire was the bedroom where George Welch was located.

In addition, burn patterns and the discovery of an ashtray near the point of origin indicated the fire may have been the result of George Welch smoking while he was in the bed. Debra Welch later confirmed her husband routinely smoked while in bed, despite her requests to cease doing so.