Personal Injury Law

House Fire In Ottumwa

By Steve Lombardi

A house fire in Ottumwa claimed the lives of two children in the early morning hours of February 5, 2008. The house located at 143 N. Willard Street in Ottumwa was engulfed in flames. The parents both escaped. The father was reportedly burned trying to rescue his two children, ages 2 and 11 months.

Ottumwa Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones returned to the scene later Tuesday with a crew of firefighters and an investigator from the state fire marshal's office. Jones said from what he has been able to piece together, the parents crawled out a second-story window onto the roof of the porch. From there, they jumped to the ground. Both Shawn and America Umphress were transported to Ottumwa Regional Health Center for injuries. A relative told the Courier that Shawn Umphress was burned trying to rescue his children.

An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death. The fire marshal's office will be investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Questions linger.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on February 12, 2008 (boomark / email).