A devastating house explosion in Defiance, Missouri, early Friday morning tragically claimed the lives of two young brothers, Julian Keiser, 4, and Jamison Keiser, 6. The tragic incident occurred on a day when local schools had canceled classes due to severe weather, leaving the boys at home with their family. While their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, and grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, were able to escape the fire, the two boys could not be rescued in time.

First responders arrived swiftly but faced significant challenges due to the intensity of the flames. Chief Dan Casey of the New Melle Fire Protection District explained the difficulty in locating the children, stating, “The fire made it difficult to find them right away.” Despite the firefighters’ best efforts, they were unable to save the boys.

Neighbor Sharon Oberlag, who heard the explosion, expressed her sorrow, recalling Julian and Jamison as “the nicest little boys” who were passionate about school. “They thought school was the coolest thing ever,” she remembered, highlighting the joy and light the brothers brought to their community.

The home where the explosion occurred is owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, who extended their deepest sympathies to the grieving family. In a statement, they shared, “Our hearts go out to the member of our team and their family who lost their children and grandchildren.”

In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been created to support the bereaved family. The campaign, which has raised over $145,000, was started by Dan Tripp, co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance. Both Evelyn and her mother, Jennifer, are active members of the Defiance Merchants Association, which has come together to support the family during this difficult time. Tripp explained that the funds will help cover funeral expenses and aid the family as they cope with the loss of their home.

Neighbor Laura Emerson, who visited the site of the explosion, placed a Christmas wreath amid the remains of the house. Reflecting on the boys, she said, “Those boys seemed happy. They were intelligent, content, and loved.”