An Amish woman and her six children died after a house explosion in rural Pennsylvania on Sunday morning, authorities said. The blast occurred at a home in Lamar Township, Clinton County, near Mill Hall.
Firefighters responded to reports of an explosion and fire, but the house was fully engulfed in flames, preventing rescue. Pennsylvania State Police identified the victims as Sarah Stoltzfus, 34, her four sons aged 11, 10, 5, and 3, and two daughters aged 8 and 6.
An obituary posted by a local funeral home confirmed Stoltzfus was a member of the Old Order Amish Church. She is survived by her husband, David Stoltzfus. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but police said a propane leak inside the home may have been responsible. Exterior propane tanks did not explode and were not contributing factors.
Neighbour Christina Duck told WNEP-TV she heard a loud boom while eating breakfast. 'I could see the flames through the windows and I come running outside and within a minute the whole house was completely engulfed,' she said. Duck noted the family had moved in a few months ago and she often saw the children playing outside.
WNEP-TV showed video of Amish community members arriving at the scene to clean up and pay respects. The Amish are known for their simple lifestyle, traditional clothing, and use of horse-drawn buggies, prioritising faith and family over modern conveniences.
