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LOCAL : Lancaster Woman Pulled From Fire

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<i> From Times staff and wire service reports </i>

Two neighbors who found an elderly Lancaster woman standing in a daze in her burning apartment and pulled her to safety probably saved her life, firefighters said today.

Anna Mae Ray, 68, was in stable condition at Lancaster Community Hospital, where she was treated for smoke inhalation.

Neighbors Sammy Ramos, 44, and Ray Valencia, 46, acted quickly at about 5 p.m. Sunday when they saw smoke pouring from Ray’s apartment in a single-story duplex in the 45000 block of North Fig Street.

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Valencia used a garden hose to fight the flames while Ramos made his way through the smoke and found Ray standing near the fire, which was apparently caused by a cigarette left burning on a coffee table.

“The fire was cooking pretty good,” Ramos said. “She was very confused, kind of disoriented. I grabbed her by both arms, turned her around and just kind of walked her out.”

The fire caused about $45,000 damage, firefighters said.

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