The fire broke out in a two flat along Harding near 18th Street around 1 a.m. Saturday morning in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood.
Neighbors initially tried to reach the woman, but the smoke and flames pushed them back.
The fire crew on the scene found the woman in a second floor apartment and brought her down to safety.
The woman is currently hospitalized and in critical condition from burns and smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
