Woman, 82, Dies After Being Rescued From Flames

An 82-year-old woman rescued from a fire in her Laguna Beach home over the weekend has died, authorities said Monday.

Lena George was engulfed in flames about 10:25 a.m. Sunday while seated in a wheelchair as she prepared a TV dinner in her kitchen, police said. She lived in an upstairs apartment unit in the 1000 block of Catalina Street.

George was in critical condition when she was airlifted to UCI Medical Center in Orange. She was treated for smoke inhalation and second- and third-degree burns to 90% of her body. She died about 3 a.m. Monday, hospital spokeswoman Kim Pine said.

George had been rescued by neighbor Ignazio Battaglia, who was leaving home when he heard her screams and saw smoke coming from her door, Laguna Beach fire officials said.

Though he was on crutches after a car crash that left him with a broken leg and shoulder, Battaglia managed to get to George, push her to the sink and fill up a pan with water to douse flames that had consumed George’s clothes.

Battaglia then wheeled George to safety and called 911.

“He is a good Samaritan, good hero material,” Laguna Beach Fire Chief Bill Edmundson said.

Investigators said George apparently put the TV dinner in her oven but turned on a separate broiler instead. Edmundson said George had been storing plastic bags and other combustible materials in the broiler.

“She apparently went to investigate the burning when she opened the broiler door,” Edmundson said. “The flames got out of the oven and got her at the right place, and her face was at the right height.”

The fire caused about $8,000 in damage to the kitchen and $2,000 in damage to its contents, he said.

Daryl George told investigators that his mother was forgetful and was not very familiar with the oven and broiler. She usually received Meals on Wheels deliveries on weekdays, he said, and he cooked for her on weekends. On the rare occasion that Lena George did cook, her son said, she used the microwave.

On Friday, he said, his mother told him she had leftovers and she could cook for herself over the weekend.