Mother and 6 Children Die in Explosion at Their Pennsylvania Home
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- An explosion at a home in Lamar Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, led to a fast-moving fire that killed a mother, Sarah B. Stolzfus, 34, and her six children aged 3 to 11 on Sunday morning.
- Firefighters arrived around 8:30 a.m. to find the two-story house fully engulfed in flames, making it impossible to search for victims inside.
- Authorities suspect a propane tank leak inside the residence caused the fire, though external gas tanks did not explode; the incident remains under investigation.
- The Stolzfus family belonged to the Old Order Amish community in the area, known for avoiding modern technology; the victims are survived by the husband and father, David F. Stoltzfus, whose whereabouts during the explosion are unknown.
- Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom and rushed outside, highlighting the shock felt within the small, tight-knit rural community.
