MILL HALL, Pa. — Tragedy struck a central Pennsylvania community Sunday morning when an explosion and house fire claimed the lives of seven family members, including a mother and her six young children.
Emergency crews rushed to a residence in Lamar Township, Clinton County, after receiving reports of a blast and flames. When firefighters arrived, they discovered seven people were trapped inside, but the intense fire prevented any rescue attempts, according to Pennsylvania State Police officials. The victims have been identified as 34-year-old Sarah Stolzfus and her children — four boys aged 11, 10, 5, and 3 years old, along with two girls, ages 8 and 6.
Investigators are working to determine what sparked the deadly incident. State police believe a propane leak within the house may have triggered the explosion and subsequent fire. Officials noted that propane tanks located outside the home did not detonate and were ruled out as factors in the tragedy.
A nearby resident, Christina Duck, described the terrifying moment to WNEP-TV, saying she was having breakfast when the explosion occurred. “And I heard a boom and I could feel it and I got up and looked out the window and I could see the flames through the windows and I come running outside and within a minute the whole house was completely engulfed,” Duck recalled. She mentioned that the family had recently moved to the neighborhood just a few months earlier and that she frequently observed the children playing outdoors.
