A house explosion in Defiance, Missouri, on Friday morning took the lives of two young brothers, Julian (4) and Jamison (6). Schools were closed due to bad weather, so the boys were at home with their family. While their mother, Evelyn, and grandparents, Jennifer and Vern, escaped, the boys couldn’t be saved in time.
First responders arrived quickly but struggled because the fire was so intense. Chief Dan Casey of the New Melle Fire Department said the flames made it hard to find the children right away. Despite the firefighters’ hard work, the boys couldn’t be saved.
Sharon Oberlag, a neighbor who heard the explosion, spoke about the loss. She described Julian and Jamison as “the nicest little boys” who loved school and thought it was “the coolest thing ever.” She highlighted how much joy and energy the brothers brought to their community.
The house where the explosion happened is owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, who are deeply saddened by the family’s loss. In a statement, they said, “Our hearts are with our team member and their family who lost their children and grandchildren.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help the family, raising over $145,000. It was set up by Dan Tripp, co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance. Both Evelyn and her mother, Jennifer, are involved with the Defiance Merchants Association, which is supporting the family. The money will be used for funeral costs and to help the family recover from losing their home.
Neighbor Laura Emerson, who visited the site of the explosion, placed a Christmas wreath on what was left of the house. She shared warm memories of the boys, saying, “They seemed happy, smart, and loved.”
The tragedy has deeply affected the community, but as they support one another, the memory of Julian and Jamison will live on. Their love for life, learning, and the happiness they brought to others will always be remembered.