Amish Mother and Six Children Killed in Pennsylvania House Explosion

An explosion and fast-moving fire in Lamar Township, Clinton County, killed Sarah Stoltzfus, 34, and her six children after firefighters could not enter the engulfed house, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The blast occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and investigators say a propane leak inside the home may have caused the explosion, while exterior propane tanks did not explode, police said.

Pennsylvania State Police and the Montoursville Fire/Explosion Investigation Unit are treating the incident as both a fire origin and a death investigation, led by Trooper Stephen Schramm, officials said.

All seven victims were identified as Sarah Stoltzfus and four sons, ages 11, 10, 5 and 3, and two daughters, ages 8 and 6, and neighbors said the family had moved into the house a few months earlier.

Investigators continue to probe the cause and recovery, and members of the local Old Order Amish community and neighbors have arrived at the scene to clean up and pay respects, witnesses said.