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Tragedy struck in the small town of Defiance, Missouri, when a house explosion claimed the lives of two young children.

Due to severe weather, school had been canceled, leaving Julian Keiser, four years old, and Jamison Keiser, six years old, at home. The devastating blast occurred early Friday morning, just outside of St. Louis, near Highway 94. Sadly, Julian and Jamison could not escape the flames and passed away before help could arrive.

Their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, and their grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, managed to escape and are safe, as confirmed by authorities and a GoFundMe page set up in their honor.

A neighbor, Sharon Oberlag, described the two boys as “the nicest little boys” and shared that “they thought school was the coolest thing ever, and they were so cute.”

Jaiden, who had just started kindergarten, and his brother Julian were at home when the incident occurred because their school had canceled classes to protect the children from the cold.

Unfortunately, firefighters were unable to reach the boys in time as the house was already engulfed in flames when they arrived. New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey explained that the firefighters attempted to enter through a window to search for the boys but were hindered by the fire.

Tragically, the boys’ bodies were later found after the fire was extinguished. Oberlag told KMOV that she heard a sound resembling an explosion coming from the home.

“Thank God, we didn’t know we were going to lose the two little boys, but everyone rushed to help,” she told the news outlet.

Oberlag continued, “They tried to save the boys, Nick and Travis, who lived next door, but unfortunately, they couldn’t. It’s a terrible tragedy.”

The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Florida-based business established by David and Jerri Hoffmann from Missouri, owned the building in question. The Hoffmanns had purchased nearby wineries and restaurants with a vision to transform the area into the Napa Valley of the Midwest, as reported by the Post-Dispatch.

In a statement released on Friday, the company expressed its condolences: “Our hearts go out to the member of our team and their family who have tragically lost their children and grandchildren. As a family-run business, we are deeply committed to supporting our employees and the community.”

The home was located near the Defiance RoadHouse, a bar and grill owned by Turpiano, the boys’ mother, according to the news source.

Dan Tripp, a co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance, told the Post-Dispatch that Jennifer Ham, Turpiano’s mother, had also managed the establishment for many years.

Tripp started a GoFundMe campaign for the family, which had collected over $145,000 by Monday morning. He noted that both women are members of the Defiance Merchants Association, a group that supports the local wine industry.

Reflecting on the boys, they say, “If you ever encountered them at the Defiance Roadhouse, the Christmas Festival, or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, you’ll always remember their enthusiasm for life and the joy they brought to everyone around them.”

The family is now facing the burden of paying for two funerals while also dealing with the loss of their home and all their belongings. A statement from the family reads, “Your prayers and emotional support are needed as we grieve the loss of two precious little boys, in addition to any financial help you can provide.”

Laura Emerson, a neighbor, visited the site of the destroyed home to place a Christmas wreath on a water pump nearby. She adorned the wreath with two plush toys as a tribute.

“Those boys were content, bright, and full of joy,” she told the press. “They were deeply loved.”