An elderly woman who was rescued last week from a fire in Blawnox died this morning, the Allegheny County medical examiner said.

An autopsy will be conducted later today for Jean Guentner, 82.

She had been rescued by police and firefighters from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment, where the fire was reported at about 1:40 a.m. Thursday at the Blawnox Towers, a senior citizens high rise on Center Avenue in the borough.

No other serious injuries resulted from the fire, which caused an estimated $1.5 million in damages, county Housing Authority officials said.

The fire was started when Mrs. Guentner fell asleep while smoking a cigarette, investigators said.

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