Second person in Cedar Rapids mobile home fire has died

CEDAR RAPIDS - The second person found in a burning mobile home earlier this week has died.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the fire department was informed by the Johnson County Medical Examiner's Office that 76-year-old Karen L. Jacobs has died. Jacobs had been at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics since Monday. Her husband, 76-year-old Ronald Jacobs, was declared dead at the scene of the mobile home fire Monday morning.

Firefighters pulled the Jacobses from the living room of their manufactured home at 3701 16th Ave. SW after they were called there around 7:34 a.m. for a report of a fire.

Authorities said the fire started on the couch in the living room. While the cause is listed as undetermined due to the amount of damage to the couch and living room, fire investigators said smoking materials were a 'contributing factor” to the fire.

There were no working smoke alarms in the residence, Buelow said.