Woman Burned In Blawnox High-Rise Blaze Dies

A woman who was hospitalized after a fire tore through her high-rise apartment complex in Blawnox last week has died from her injuries.

The blaze started in a fifth-floor apartment at about 1:45 a.m. in the 700 block of Center Avenue on Thursday.

Jean Guentner, 79, suffered second-degree burns, firefighters said. She was taken to the West Penn Burn Unit, where she died early Monday morning.

Friends said Guentner was set to celebrate her 80th birthday this weekend.

Firefighters said the flames and heat were so intense that they had to go to the sixth floor to fight the fifth-floor fire.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but firefighters said it may be connected to cigarette smoking.

This was not the first time there was a fire at the high-rise. Two years ago, 120 people were displaced in a fire. No one was injured in that blaze.

Firefighters said the fire was caused by cigarettes in a trash can.

Officials said a non-smoking policy could be instated.

Previous Stories: October 30, 2009: Some Residents Return Home After High-Rise Fire