Fire In DeBary Motor Home Claims 2 Lives

Date Added: February 24, 2020 4:10 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

FIRE IN DEBARY MOTOR HOME CLAIMS 2 LIVES

Two people lost their lives in a fire inside a motor home in a DeBary RV park early this morning.

Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters responded to the Highbanks Marina & Camp Resort at 488 W. Highbanks Road shortly after 4 a.m. Monday. The two people inside were transported to area hospitals where they were later pronounced deceased.

Their names are Allan Gower, 72 (DOB 2/24/1947) and Teresa Gower, 69 (DOB 11/23/1950), both Kentucky residents who often spend the winter months at the motor home in DeBary. Mr. Gower was transported to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford and Mrs. Gower was transported to AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives. However, the initial observations at the scene suggest multiple space heaters, extension cords and power strips were in use, and that a space heater ignited the fire near the only exit.