The cause of the fatal fire in Whitehall remains under investigation

By EJ Conzola II

A Whitehall Elementary School student died in an early morning fire at her home on Maple Street in the village.

Airyonna Jabot died when flames swept through her apartment building at 5 Maple St., Whitehall Central School District Superintendent Patrick Dee informed the school and community in an online letter posted earlier in the day. Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan confirmed that someone died in the fire, but said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he could not confirm the victim’s identity or provide further details about her.

“It is with great regret that I must share the following information,” Dee wrote. “This morning one of our students, Airyonna Jabot, tragically died in a fire at her home.”

The district brought in mental health counselors to help students cope with the death, Dee said. The counselors will stay at both the high school and elementary school as long as needed, he said.

Dee also encouraged anyone who felt their child needed extra support coping with the death.

“I would also recommend anyone with additional needs or concerns to contact the school. We will help in any way we can as we come together as a community to heal,” he wrote.

Few details about the fire were available late Wednesday. Jordan said the investigation is still in its early stages. The district attorney said it was too early to even say whether the cause could be determined, let alone what that cause might have been.

Several neighbors reported hearing one to three loud bangs or explosions shortly before the fire was discovered around 4 a.m

Investigators from the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit were on scene for most of the day, collecting evidence from both the two-story building, which housed three apartments, and from a car parked in front of the residence.

The investigation is being led by the Whitehall Police Department, with assistance from state police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Jordan said.

The girl lived in the only apartment on the upper floor, which was apparently the most damaged by the fire. The residents of the two ground-floor apartments were able to escape, although one of those residents, who was putting an ice pack on his hand, said he suffered a burn while trying to get to the upstairs apartment to save the girl.

Jordan said he didn’t know how many people were affected by the fire.

According to neighbors, Airyonna lived with a brother and at least one parent. The other residents of this apartment apparently escaped without serious injuries.

Residents of all three units received assistance from the American Red Cross.

Jordan said more information would be released as it becomes available, but added that he could not provide a time frame for when that might happen.