Grandmother burned to death after her boyfriend pours gasoline on backyard fire pit

Grandmother burned to death after her boyfriend pours gasoline on backyard fire pit ‘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,’ her family said in a fundraiser - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A beloved Arizona grandmother died days after suffering “catastrophic injuries” to more than half her body when her boyfriend allegedly poured gasoline into a backyard fire pit and caused it to explode. Tammy Dodson, a certified nursing assistant at the local Veterans Affairs system, was enjoying an evening with her boyfriend and sister, Tara Carl, at her Prescott Valley home just before 11 p.m. September 24, the day before her 59th birthday. Carl told KVVU-TV that as the fire dwindled, her sister’s boyfriend grabbed a gas can and dumped it on the fire to try to reignite it, but instead caused an explosion that engulfed Dodson in flames. First responders found Dodson lying in the backyard with “catastrophic injuries” that left her unable to speak. Her boyfriend, who has not been publicly identified by police, also suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. Dodson’s burns covered 53 percent of her body. She spent 10 days intubated at a Phoenix burn center before she died from her injuries October 4. “I’m very angry. She should not have been taken from us the way she was,” her sister told the local outlet. Dodson was a mother, grandmother and beloved healthcare worker. She leaves behind three young grandchildren, according to a GoFundMe set up to help her family pay her medical bills and cover her funeral costs. “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. She was a mom, a grandma, a sister, and an aunt, and a friend to so many,” her family wrote on the fundraiser. “Her children and grandchildren meant everything to her. She did so much for them and was such a big part of their lives.” The campaign had received over $4,000 in donations as of Monday. Meanwhile, Dodson’s relatives are now traumatized by what happened to the beloved grandmother. “I don’t want anybody ever to throw gasoline or igniting sources onto fires,” Carl said. “That’s just beyond my comprehension. It’s just beyond it.” Prescott Valley Police confirmed the incident allegedly happened while someone tried to reignite a fire pit. The agency noted that the man on the property was injured but was not taken to the hospital. Authorities have not publicly identified the man involved, nor have they said whether criminal charges will be filed. Police said their investigation is ongoing. The Independent has contacted the Prescott Valley Police Department for more information. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments