An Amish woman and her six children died in a swift-moving house fire on Sunday in rural northcentral Pennsylvania, authorities said. The fire, which followed an explosion that shook nearby houses in Lamar Township, claimed the lives of Sarah Stoltzfus, 34, and her children, four sons ages 11, 10, 5, and 3, and two daughters, ages 8 and 6, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Police said a propane leak inside the home may have caused the explosion and fire, noting that exterior propane tanks did not explode and were not contributing factors.
Neighbor Christina Duck told WNEP-TV she was eating breakfast when the incident 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 said. She added that the family had moved in a couple of months ago and that she often saw the children outside playing.
According to WNEP-TV, members of the Amish community arrived at the scene to clean up and pay respects. Sarah Stoltzfus was identified as a member of the Old Order Amish Church community in an obituary posted online by a local funeral home. She is survived by her husband, David Stoltzfus.
The Amish prioritize their deep Christian faith and family life, often eschewing many modern conveniences. They wear traditional clothing and use horses and buggies for much of their transportation. They often speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch.