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

An autopsy was to be conducted yesterday for Jean Guentner, 82.

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

Mrs. Guentner is the 15th person this year to die after a fire in the county, Allegheny County Fire Marshal Donald Brucker said.

The 15 deaths are ahead of last year's pace, when 12 people died after fires, he said.

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