Community gathers for family after Defiance house fire [Video]

NEW MELLE, Mo. – After two children died in a house fire in Defiance earlier this month, a St. Charles community gathered to fundraise for the family.

“They’re doing a big thing at the school right now for dinner for them. So yeah, I mean, I’d say the community came together pretty good,” Tyge Pipmen, New Melle resident, said.

Residents gathered at Daniel Boone Elementary School to hold a dinner and memorial fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to the family.

“Defiance is a very supportive community…. we have these tragedies. We have to come together and support each other,” Fire Chief Dan Casey, New Melle Fire Protection District, said.

Two boys, Jamison and Julian, lost their lives in a fire Jan. 19. They were four and six years old.

Firefighters from the New Melle Protection District, along with several other departments, were on the scene that day and at …