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2-year-old girl killed in Mt. Pleasant Township fire

Renatta Signorini And Jacob Tierney
| Monday, November 2, 2020 4:42 a.m.
Renatta Signorini | Tribune-Review
Firefighters surround the remains of a trailer destroyed by fire in Mt. Pleasant Township Monday.

A 2-year-old girl was killed in a mobile home fire Monday in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner John Ackerman.

The coroner’s office identified the girl as Charli Olson.

Four people escaped the Beacon Road fire and were being helped by the Salvation Army and American Red Cross, according to Hecla Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Howell. The home, on a secluded lane just outside of Mt. Pleasant Borough, was destroyed.

Firefighters were called at 4 a.m. for a report of a working structure fire with entrapment, Howell said. They arrived to find the residence fully engulfed.

“The family made it outside, all but one,” he said.

Olson was pronounced dead at 6:52 a.m., Ackerman said.

On a blustery morning with snow flurries and high winds, investigators sifted through the remnants of the charred home while fire trucks blocked Route 31. The road was cleared around 8:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, though a state police fire marshal is investigating and will make the final determination, Ackerman said.

Friends quickly jumped in to help the Olson family through an online fundraiser and collection of clothing and household items. Kerri Krivjanik said Brittany and John Olson have been great parents to Charli and her younger brother Jackson.

“Johnny is always a hard-working dad and husband to that family and always gives them the best life he can in the world,” Krivjanik said. “He is always on the go doing or fixing something. Brittany has always been hard working also and worked while pregnant so they could make a better life for their little family.”

Krivjanik set up a GoFundMe online fundraising page for the family. More than $3,000 of the $20,000 goal had been raised by Monday afternoon. She said she hadn’t seen much of Charli this year because of restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, but the girl always was “silly and lovable” in her parents’ social media posts.

Friend C.J. Dietz said Jackson needs clothing in size 12 months and diapers in size 4, as well as toys.

John and Brittany both wear small shirts and John needs pants size 32/30 and Brittany wears size 2 or 3 pants. Any household items are being accepted. Dietz said anyone interested in donating items can message him on Facebook or text him at 412-537-7655.

Charli’s family could not be reached.


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