NORTH CANAAN - A North Canaan woman survived a fire that destroyed her home early Saturday morning, Jan. 5. A neighbor is credited with saving her life.

Jean Hunker, who is disabled by medical problems, was led from her burning apartment at the Wangum Village housing complex by Tom Dennis, who found her sitting on her burning couch. It is believed the fire was started by a cigarette Hunker was smoking. She is on oxygen for a lung condition.

An alarm alerted neighbors and the Canaan Fire Company.

Hunker was brought to safety by Dennis before an oxygen tank exploded, turning a bad situation much worse.

Firefighters from Lakeville and Norfolk were called in to help. They were able to keep the blaze from spreading to adjoining apartments.

Hunker was taken to Sharon Hospital with smoke inhalation and unconfirmed reports of burns to her feet.

Residents of adjoining apartments were taken in by neighbors until they could return to their homes.

On Jan. 9, Wangum Village Executive Director Ashley Bergenty said residents were coping well and things were getting back to normal. Resident Carol Dinsmore, who lives behind Hunker, is the only tenant unable to return to her apartment, which was damaged by water and smoke. She was moved to a vacant apartment.

Bergenty said she had not heard from Hunker or received word of her condition or where she is living.

As for the badly burned apartment, it's a matter of waiting for the insurance company.

"It appears it was just the one apartment that will have to be rebuilt," Bergenty said. "The building inspector told us it is structurally sound, so it's just the interior that needs to be done."