PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A backyard bonfire turned deadly over the weekend in Port St. Lucie, police said.
Officers said they responded to a home located on Southeast Rainier Street late Friday night at about midnight.
WATCH BELOW: Woman's body 'fully engulfed' by fire
Police said a 55-year-old woman severely burned herself after using an accelerant while lighting a backyard bonfire.
Investigators told WPTV they believe the woman was using gasoline to light the fire.
"There was a backyard watering garden hose that the family used to extinguish the flames until first responders arrived and law enforcement and EMS arrived," Officer Brittany Holly with the Port St Lucie Police Department said.
The victim, later identified as Karyn Patricia Alva Torres, sustained severe burns to most of her body.
Torres was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment. Police said doctors assessed that she sustained burns to about 97% of her body.
"It fully engulfed her body," Holly said.
The woman died from her wounds a few hours later.
Police said the victim's husband, Francisco Mosqueda, also sustained burns to his hands. He was taken to HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital for injuries described as not life-threatening.
"WE HEARD SOME SCREAMING"
David Mohr, who lives across the street, told WPTV reporter Tyler Hatfield on Monday that he heard a commotion outside his home the night of the incident.
"We heard some screaming," Mohr said.
Mohr said multiple police officers responded to the neighborhood after the woman was hurt.
Holly added that this is just another reminder about fire safety.
"Make sure to have a fire extinguisher and or water source nearby," Holly said. "Keep the flames manageable. Don't let the flames get uncontrollable because, in the event of an emergency, you want to be able to put those flames out."
Mohr said he's still trying to process what happened to his neighbors.
"This is usually a very quiet neighborhood," Mohr said. "It's kind of unusual to hear ... something like that happen."
The woman's death is being classified as accidental.
