House fire kills Etowah woman

photo An Etowah, Tenn., woman died after her house caught fire.
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An Etowah, Tenn., woman died Thursday morning after her house caught fire.

The Etowah Rescue Squad and Rural Fire Department received a call about the blaze around 8:45 a.m., Chief Brandon Frost said.

Sandy Jackson jumped out a window and ran for help, but her sister, Monica Jackson, 38, was trapped inside the two-story house. Firefighters found her dead, Frost said.

The state's Bomb and Arson Division was investigating the fire, though no foul play was suspected as of press time. Frost said that division always investigates fires in which someone dies, and they suspect an electrical fire engulfed the house.

Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like explosions. The flames caused oxygen tanks inside the house to blow up, pushing two firefighters from the house, Frost said. Neither was seriously injured.

The fire department finished fighting the fire around 11 a.m. Thursday.

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