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

DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995                   TAG: 9511130063
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GOOD NEIGHBOR SAVES WOMAN IN HOUSE FIRE

A 69-year-old woman owes her life to a neighbor who pulled her from her burning home at 2714 Edison Ave. S.E. on Saturday afternoon.

Roanoke Fire Capt. Billy Obenchain said he is trying to find out the name of the man, who acted after seeing flames shooting from the front windows of the woman's home about 1:30.

``The world needs more people like him,'' Obenchain said.

The fire appears to have been caused by a cigarette, but it is still being investigated, according to Obenchain.

The woman, whose name was not available Saturday night, was taken to a hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and burns on her hands, face and neck.

The neighbor entered the house through a back door and heard the woman yelling for help. He searched the smoke-filled house, found her lying on a bathroom floor and dragged her outside to safety, Obenchain said.

Obenchain estimated the damage to the house and contents at $20,000. He said it took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Obenchain said the woman was the only one home at the time of the fire.

by CNB