NEED TO KNOW
A mother and her six children died in a house explosion and fire in Pennsylvania on the morning of April 19
Firefighters were unable to search for victims as the house was completely consumed by the fire
Authorities are investigating a possible internal propane leak as the cause of the explosion and blaze
A mother and her six children have died after their house exploded and caught fire, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.
The fire started at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, at a house on Long Run Road in Lamar Township, Clinton County, around 32 miles from The Pennsylvania State University, according to a state police report.
Clinton County Fire Departments were called, and firefighters found a 34-year-old woman trapped in the blazing house along with her six children.
Explosion and fire in Lamar Township in Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Credit: S. Wert
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However, they found that the property was completely consumed by the fire, leaving emergency services “no ability to search for victims,” according to the release.
A 34-year-old woman, identified by state police as Sarah B. Stolzfus, died in the fire along with six children, four sons aged 11, 10, 5 and 3 and two daughters aged 8 and 6.
They were all pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which also reported that fire units across Centre and Lycoming counties were dispatched to the house, along with those from Clinton County.
Explosion and fire in Lamar Township in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, April 19
Credit: S. Wert
“A propane link within the interior of the residence is a possible cause of the explosion/fire,” the police report added.
“It should be noted that the exterior propane tanks did not explode, nor were they contributing factors of the explosion/fire,” it added.
The origin and cause of the explosion and fire are still under investigation. The deaths of Stolzfus and her six children are also still being investigated.
Pennsylvania State Police were contacted for further comment by PEOPLE, but did not immediately respond.
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