67-year-old woman dies after microwave incident causes home fire

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– A house fire has claimed the life of a 67-year-old woman in southwest Sumter County, said deputies.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office says Tommie Ruth Jackson became the victim of a house fire at the home, she and her sister shared on Kolb Road around 8:37 p.m. on last Thursday, May 23.

Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrived to the home, saw smoke coming from the home and someone outside screaming for help.

At the scene they learned that one person was still inside of the home and attempted to force the door open to gain entry.

One person inside of the home was able to get out and directed a deputy to a window where they believed the other person inside of the home remained.

Sumter County Fire Department personnel continued to work to rescue the individual and extinguish the fire.

A witness at the scene reported that a resident had attempted to warm a sandwich in packaging containing foil in the microwave.

When the sandwich wrapper in the microwave oven burst into flames and attempted to extinguish the fire but failed.

The victim was taken from the home and emergency medical service personnel worked to save her life before she was taken by ambulance to Prisma Health
Tuomey with sheriff’s office deputies and Sumter Police officers escorting her.

With the assistance of the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Sumter Fire Department, it was determined the cause of the fire was related to placing an
aluminum foil wrapper inside the microwave and poor living conditions that hindered the extinguishing of the fire and the spread of the fire.

Authorities determined the fire was accidental. The cause of Jackson’s death is pending, says SCSO.