NEW: Boy dies in apartment fire in Waubay

April 13, 2023

Mike Tanner

WAUBAY, S.D.–A three year-old boy has died in a Monday night apartment fire in Waubay.

An adult and three children were in the apartment when the fire was discovered. All of them got out safely except for Azariah LaBelle, who had just celebrated his third birthday on Sunday.

His mother Jessica was unable to save him, telling KELO News, ““My older boys, they were already, they seen my panic and they ran towards the door and I was unlocking the door and I got them out, made them go outside. I turned around to find my baby and I went into the back room where he was. I opened the door. By that time, the flames just bursted, they got huge and I tried to put it out with water from my mop bucket and everything and that was not helping.”

The Division of Criminal Investigation and state fire marshal are investigating the fire.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up for the family. More information can be found by clicking here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/2d8uww-tragic-apartment-fire?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_lmgs+2d8uww-tragic-apartment-fire