The Herald-News - News Story

    A Spring City man burned to death sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning, after his trailer caught on fire and he was apparently unable to escape.
    William H. "Butch" Fuson, Jr., 49, of Rocky Spring Road, was found dead in his 1970's pull-behind trailer on Tuesday morning, according to Rhea County Fire Department investigator Chuck Kinney.
    Fuson had been living behind a house belonging to his good friend, John Houston, for the past four years, according to Kinney. Fuson was last seen alive on Monday afternoon, and Houston reportedly saw the camper intact that night.
    When John's son, Chris Houston, took his dog out at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, he saw smoke rising from the trailer, reported Kinney. Fuson would often have a campfire at his trailer, but when Chris investigated the smoke, he found the camper burned to the ground and still smoldering.
    Upon seeing Fuson's body in the debris, Chris called 9-1-1, Kinney said. The sheriff's department and fire department responded to the scene. State fire marshal Daniel Foster and a medical examiner also responded and are investigating Fuson's death, said Kinney.
    "He probably fell asleep," said Rhea County Sheriff's Department Chief John Argo.
    Kinney determined the fire probably originated in the bedroom area of the trailer, but he ruled the cause undetermined because he could not locate an exact point of origin.
    Fuson's body was taken to Rhea Medical Center for an X-ray to check the body for evidence of foul play. Everyone investigating the death, however, suspects that it was accidental, Kinney said.
    Sheriff's department investigator Rocky Potter, who also responded to the fire, said, "It's always like this on the holidays - something tragic happens."
    From the evidence at the scene, Potter said it appeared that Fuson may have rolled out of bed, possibly in an attempt to escape the smoke. Unfortunately, he was not successful, he said.
    Michelle Friesen can be contacted at michelle.friesen@rheaheraldnews.com.