LEE – A forest ranger who helped pull a woman from a burning Corbett Road home after she attempted suicide by setting a Christmas tree ablaze in December 2004 has won the prestigious Carnegie Medal for heroism, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Friday.

Ranger Peter J. Pelletier Sr. of Lee is the 95th Maine resident to win a medal and a $4,000 cash award since the award’s creation in 1904, said Douglas R. Chambers, director of external affairs for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

The award recognized Pelletier, but not Game Warden Paul Farrington, without intending to slight Farrington for his role in the rescue, Chambers said.

“The other man did a very noble and brave thing, but by going into the building, Mr. Pelletier put himself in a higher level of danger than did the other individual,” Chambers said Friday.

Pelletier and Farrington were hailed as heroes for getting the woman out of the bedroom despite their lack of training in house fire rescues.

The incident began when the woman, apparently distraught over relationship troubles with her live-in boyfriend, set fire to the tree and then called 911. Penobscot Regional Communications Center dispatcher Jennifer Stalter took the call, and dispatcher Erik Dow alerted the Lee Volunteer Fire Department.

Lee Fire Chief Jay Crocker immediately radioed PRCC dispatcher Johannah Nelson and had her call the Maine Forest Service office, where Farrington was visiting Pelletier.

The two rushed to the two-story house, where heavy smoke and flames drove them back from the front door. The two went toward the back of the house and saw an open window about 7 feet off the ground. Farrington boosted Pelletier through the window, and he led the woman to the window and safety.

Pelletier said he was thrilled and humbled by the award.

“I think that there are a lot of other folks out there who are more deserving of it than I am. I guess I am just someone who was nominated and fortunate enough to win,” Pelletier said. “Don’t get me wrong. I am honored to think that I am in with the other people who have been nominated for these awards, but there are lots of other folks who put themselves at risk in their everyday jobs.”

The most recent state honorees were recognized in 2004. David Custer of Parkman and Mark Potter of Canaan won medals for rescuing a 3-year-old boy from a burning car in Canaan in 2003, and Christopher Duplessis of Mason Township helped to rescue a man from a burning racecar in New Hampshire in 2001.

The commission meets five times a year to review press clippings and awards about 100 people in the U.S. and Canada annually.

The 20 award winners announced Friday bring to 8,981 the number of awards made since the Pittsburgh-based fund’s inception. Since industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie established the fund, $28.5 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.