Flashing fire came out of the element which if on top of the microwave. This is an old model

Hello, Rosemary -

Apparently something in the microwave shorted out. You don't state the make and model of the microwave. There may be some kitchen appliance repair place in your area where you can take it to be looked at and _possibly_ repaired. However, it may be quicker, and more cost effective, to purchase a new microwave and have your old microwave recycled properly.

Note: These days many municipalities or counties have electronics recycling centers or specially identified days for residents to bring old and "dead" electronics for proper recycling. This is the Earth911.com web page you can use to find a place to recycle electronics near you (in the USA): https://search.earth911.com/?utm_source=earth911-header&utm_medium=top-navigation-menu&utm_campaign=top-nav-recycle-search-button .

Best wishes