A mobile fire over the weekend in Fontanelle has claimed a second life. 63-year old Susan Davis died Wednesday at the University of Iowa Hospital’s Burn Unit. Davis and 60-year old Howard Burgher had each suffered severe burns when their mobile home caught fire Saturday night. Burgher died Sunday morning at the U-of-I Hospital’s Burn Unit.

Firefighters responded to a blaze at the home located at 227 12th Street in Fontanelle, just after 9:30-p.m., Saturday. When they arrived, Davis and Burgher were found on the ground outside the mobile home.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the accidental fire began with the careless discarding of smoking materials. The flames spread quickly because the excessive amount of combustible materials in the home.
Those same materials also restricted the couple’s escape routes. In addition, officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home.