
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 24, 1994                   TAG: 9412270087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PULASKI                                 LENGTH: Short

BLIND WOMAN SMELLS SMOKE; TENANTS RESCUED FROM FIRE

A blind woman awakened Friday by the smell of smoke managed to call authorities, who came to the rescue of the occupants of two other apartments.

Charylo Ray said she woke up about 9 a.m. and could barely breathe because of the smoke. She said she knew the three-apartment house was burning but didn't know where the fire was.

As it turned out, the fire was in her apartment. Officials say preliminary reports show a frayed wire on a microwave oven may have started the fire.

Ray said she was able to get to the phone and call the Pulaski Police Department. She then made her way onto a porch.

Police went to the other two apartments, including one occupied by Diane Schmanek and four children.

``The police knocked on the door and told us we had to get out, that there was a fire,'' Schmanek said.

Ray was treated for smoke inhalation at Pulaski Community Hospital. No one else was injured.

- Associated Press

by CNB