Deadly Town of Vestal Fire Under Investigation

A woman and three of her children are dead after fire ripped through the home the family was renting on State Line Road in the Town of Vestal May 21.

3 year old Nicole Tarbox, 3 year old Mariah Tarbox, 9 year old Mya Tarbox and 13 year old Evyn Tarbox died in the 2 a-m fire.

A 15 year old boy jumped out of a second floor window and ran to a neighbor’s house to alert authorities.

Nichole’s husband and the father of the children was at work when the fire broke out.

The blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen on the first floor near the stairway, trapping the family on the second floor.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters from over a half dozen companies were called to the scene and found the house fully engulfed in flames.

Officials say the teen who managed to escape had been alerted by working fire alarms in the home, which was being rented from the Lake Arrowhead Bible Conference.

Two of the children were students in the Susquehanna Valley School District.  Officials in the district said counselors were made available for students and staff.