It’s the kind of story that makes your heart ache. The entire country is grieving the loss of two young boys, whose lives were tragically cut short in a devastating house explosion. The incident happened in the small town of Defiance, Missouri, and the details are nothing short of heartbreaking.

Julian Keiser, aged four, and his older brother Jamison, aged six, were at home on that fateful Friday morning when the unthinkable happened. Due to extreme weather, their school had canceled classes, leaving them at home near Highway 94, just outside St. Louis. Before they could escape or be rescued, the fire that consumed their house claimed their lives.

Their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, along with their grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, managed to escape the burning home. According to officials and a GoFundMe page set up for the family, they were able to reach safety.

“They were the sweetest little boys you could ever meet,” said neighbor Sharon Oberlag. “They absolutely loved school and thought it was the best thing ever. They were just so cute and full of life.”

Because school was canceled that day to keep children safe from the harsh weather, both Julian and Jamison were at home when the explosion occurred. Tragically, they never made it out.

Firefighters arrived at the scene, but by the time they got there, the house was already engulfed in flames. According to New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey, firefighters tried to enter through a window to find the boys, but the blaze made it nearly impossible. “The fire prevented them from being found right away,” Casey explained. Sadly, the boys’ bodies were discovered later.

Sharon Oberlag, who lived nearby, recalled hearing a sound that resembled an explosion. “At first, we had no idea we would lose those two little boys,” she told reporters. “But everyone came running to help. It’s just such a tragic event.”

Despite desperate efforts, including from neighbors Nick and Travis, who lived next door, no one was able to reach the boys in time. “It’s absolutely devastating,” Oberlag added.

The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.

The home belonged to the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Florida-based business founded by Missourians David and Jerri Hoffmann. The Hoffmanns had recently bought several nearby wineries and restaurants, hoping to transform the area into the Napa Valley of the Midwest.

“Our hearts go out to the member of our team and their family who have suffered such an unimaginable loss,” the Hoffmanns said in a statement. “As a family-run company, we are deeply committed to supporting our employees and the community during this time.”

The house was located near the Defiance RoadHouse, a local bar and grill owned by the boys’ mother, Evelyn Turpiano. Jennifer Ham, the boys’ grandmother, had also run a nearby establishment for many years, according to Dan Tripp, a co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance.

Tripp launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family, which had raised over $145,000 by Monday morning. He noted that both Evelyn and Jennifer were active members of the Defiance Merchants Association, a group dedicated to supporting the local wine industry.

“If you ever met those boys at the Defiance RoadHouse, the Christmas Festival, or the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, you’d never forget how full of life they were,” reads a statement on the GoFundMe page. “They brought so much joy to everyone around them.”

In addition to losing their home and everything they owned, the family now faces the unimaginable burden of arranging two funerals. “The family will need your prayers, emotional support, and financial contributions as they grieve the loss of these two special little boys,” the statement continued.

Neighbor Laura Emerson paid her respects by hanging a Christmas wreath on a water pump near the ruins of the home. She tucked two stuffed animals into the wreath in memory of Julian and Jamison.

“Those boys were happy, smart, and so loved,” Emerson told reporters, holding back tears.