1996 Cherokee SE 4.0 6Cyl Blower Mtr Blew

Intermittent whine/groan coming from passenger side dash when blower was first turned on/off for past couple of weeks. Then this morning, turned it on and flashed and crackled at the actual switch location and now switch doesn't work at all. Does this sound like the blower motor finally died and it caused the switch fuse to burn out? Don't have a radio in it right now..just took it out 4 days ago to replace, but don't know if having the open radio contributed at all.