Joanna Policichio Death – The woman who perished in a fire in Bolivar early Tuesday morning was identified by the Westmoreland County coroner as 84-year-old Joanna Policichio. Her husband was airlifted to a Pittsburgh-area hospital, as confirmed by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
According to Westmoreland County 911 dispatchers, the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. on McKinley Street in Bolivar. Neighbors witnessed the flames and promptly called 911, with one neighbor attempting to alert the residents by knocking on the door, which was unfortunately locked.
Upon arrival, Bolivar Fire Chief John Speidel reported that the porch was engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading into the house and causing damage to a neighboring property. Christine Jones, a neighbor, recounted being awakened by the sound of sirens and expressed confidence in the community’s support for the grieving family.
The exact cause and manner of death await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday, with no immediate information available regarding the fire’s origin. State police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
