Tammy Dodson: Arizona mother killed in fire pit explosion after being ‘devoured’ by flames day before birthday

An American mother is being remembered by her heartbroken family after she was killed in a horrific fire pit explosion.

Tammy Dodson was just one day shy of celebrating her 59th birthday when she suffered serious burns after a fire pit at an Arizona home exploded on September 24, according to Prescott Valley Police Department.

Officers raced to the property on East Tracy Drive after receiving reports a person had been burned “during attempts to reignite a fire pit.”

Once at the scene, detectives found Ms Dodson “laying in the backyard with serious injuries” before she was flown to burns centre in Phoenix.

Despite first responder’s desperate efforts to save the nurse, Ms Dodson died ten days after receiving critical care at the facility.

Speaking to KPNX, Ms Dodson’s shattered sister, Tina Carl, explained the moments leading up to the fatality.

“Apparently the fire had started to dwindle out,” she said.

“And he grabbed a can of gasoline and dumped it on the fire; the can exploded.”

Ms Carl said her sister was then “devoured” by the flames as her partner, who was also gathered around the fire, managed to escape with “minimal burns.”

Another family member, Kristine Valentine, has shared her devastation in a crowdfunding campaign set up to raise funds for medical bills and Ms Dodson’s funeral.

“Our family is heartbroken to share that we lost Tammy Dodson on October 4th after she suffered catastrophic burns and injuries caused by another person’s actions involving gasoline and a fire,” she wrote in a GoFundMe statement.

“Tammy fought for ten days after the incident, enduring more than anyone should ever have to go through while our family stayed by her side, held onto hope, and prayed for her to make a recovery.”

Ms Dodson, who worked as a certified nursing assistant for Veterans Affairs, is being remembered as a “light” who deeply cared for her family and patients.

“Tammy truly was the light of our family. She was vibrant, beautiful, loving, and had a way of bringing so much life wherever she went, the post continued.

“She was a mom, a grandma, a sister, and an aunt, and a friend to so many.

“Her children and grandchildren meant everything to her. She did so much for them and was such a big part of their lives.

“She also spent her career caring for others as a CNA at the VA which speaks volumes about who she was.”

According to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office’s database, Ms Dodson’s death was an accident and resulted from “complications of thermal injuries”.

The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation by police.