Woman, 80, Carries Neighbor Out Of Apartment On Fire (Two Floors)

[matcom]

<snip>

HOPKINTON, R.I. -- An 80-year-old woman rescued her 67-year-old neighbor from an apartment fire, carrying the ailing woman down two flights of stairs.

Madalene Lindill put Grace Brayman's arms around her neck and carried her on her back out of their elderly housing complex Wednesday after Brayman accidentally ignited a fire in her apartment.

Lindill told WJAR-TV there was "nothing to it."

"I'm not a great person," she said. "You just don't think at the time."

Hope Valley-Wyoming Fire Chief Fred Stanley described Lindill as "a small woman." She told him she had served as an auxiliary firefighter in the 1960s in Plainfield, Conn.

"She had to be a spunky little character to do what she did," Stanley said.

Fire officials said the blaze started when Brayman, who was wearing an oxygen mask, lit a cigarette. That caused the mask to ignite, and the fire spread to a chair and carpet.

Brayman, the only person hurt, was released Thursday from a hospital.

Stanley said Lindill would receive a department citation given for acts of heroism.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/04/28/ri_woman_80_carries_friend_out_of_fire/

[ET Awful]

1. WoooHooo for 80 year old ladies, but . . .

what the HELL was the dumbass she saved doing lighting up a cigarette while wearing an oxygen mask?