The Region - News from Jan. 13, 1987

A bedridden elderly woman was killed in a fire caused by careless smoking, but another woman escaped serious injury when firefighters pried open a barred back door to rescue her, authorities said. Lola Wilson, 77, was found dead in her bed in a single-story duplex in the 1300 block of East 109th Street in South Los Angeles, a coroner’s spokesman said. The second woman, also 77, was rescued by firefighters. She was treated at a hospital for minor smoke inhalation. Three other residents in the other half of the duplex escaped injury. Damage to one unit of the duplex was estimated at $25,000; The second unit was not damaged.