Woman killed on Christmas following Cokeburg fire
Katie Anderson/Observer-Reporter
Firefighters work at the scene of a house fire Sunday in Cokeburg.
Katie Anderson/Observer-Reporter
State police officers put up crime tape at the scene of a house fire Sunday in Cokeburg.
A Cokeburg woman died in a fire at her home Christmas Day.
Marguerite A Pasqualucci, 84, was pronounced dead at the scene of a fire at her 71 Prospect St. home Monday at 4:45 p.m., according to a news release from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.
Cokeburg first assistant fire chief Dave Lambert said two elderly people, a man and woman, were trapped inside the residence when crews arrived at the scene.
“The man had gotten out with the assistance of a neighbor,” he said.
But the woman was still trapped in a back bedroom “by heavy flames” when fire crews arrived, Lambert said.
Bentleyville and Cokeburg firefighters were able to get Pasqualucci out of the house, he said.
They were the only two residents in the building during the fire, he said.
The man was flown by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital, Lambert said.
The fire started at about 3 p.m. and the flames appeared to have been coming from the basement, Lambert said. He said Pasqualucci called a neighbor, letting them know the house was on fire and that she couldn’t get out.
Richeyville, Mariana and California fire departments along with Bearcat EMS, Brownsville EMS and Ambulance and Chair Service assisted at the scene.
Lambert said he was grateful for the additional assistance since it was Christmas and the “wind and subzero temperatures” caused “hazardous” conditions for the firefighters.
“This just shows the brotherhood of the firemen to leave their families at the dinner table to come assist their fellow firefighters,” Lambert said.
The Cokeburg Borough office also helped out at the scene by bringing a truck load of salt to put down on the roads. The water from the hydrant and trucks had iced the roads, causing firefighters to slip.
Lambert said the cause of the fire is still unknown.
The state fire marshal and state police are investigating the incident.