81-year-old woman in Hemingway consumed by fire, officials say - WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather

HEMINGWAY, SC – An 81-year-old woman died Tuesday afternoon in Hemingway, apparently while trying to put out a cooking fire by herself, fire officials said.

Sulla Nesmith was found sometime between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. when her son came home from work, said Williamsburg County Fire Chief Randy Swinton.  Apparently she was trying to put out a cooking fire by removing the pot from the stove when she fell to the floor, and was then consumed by the fire, he said. The fire was contained to the kitchen, and damaged the cabinets, but nothing else.

Nesmith was pronounced deceased at the home, Deputy Coroner Vernarl Fulton confirmed. They are still waiting on the autopsy for confirmation on the cause of death.

Nesmith's 82nd birthday would have been in less than a week, on March 13.

Copyright 2013 WMBF News. All rights reserved.