Staff Report / September 23, 2025
PENN YAN, N.Y. -A devastating house fire in Penn Yan has left two family members dead and a community grieving.
Authorities confirmed Monday night that 12-year-old Ethan Parker and his grandmother, 78-year-old Patricia Stenz, both died following the September 19 blaze at a home on Cornwell Street.
Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly after 7:30 a.m. Friday. Police said the initial 911 call came from inside the home and was placed by Ethan. When officers arrived, they were unable to enter because of heavy flames and smoke. Firefighters who followed were able to get inside, finding Ethan in one bedroom and his grandmother in another. A family dog also perished in the fire.
Both victims were taken first to Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan before being airlifted to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Ethan passed away over the weekend, and Stenz succumbed to her injuries on Monday.
Investigators have determined the fire began in the lower section of a refrigerator unit, near its wiring and compressor. The Penn Yan Police Department and fire officials continue to investigate.
Penn Yan Middle School, where Ethan was a student, has made grief counselors available for classmates, staff, and families impacted by the tragedy.
