Hudson Valley Police Save Family’s Life From Fire
Two police officers are credited with saving the lives of members of a Hudson Valley family.
On Friday around 1:40 a.m., while investigating a domestic dispute in the Town of Plattekill, Ulster County Sheriff deputy Damon Alberts and New York State Police trooper Ryan Benincasa noticed a fully involved structure fire on the nearby road of Overland Drive.
The officers found a shed fully engulfed by flames and made many attempts to alert people who were inside a home near the shed. Heat from the fire had already melted some of the house's siding and roof soffits, police say
When they were unable to alert anyone, they made several unsuccessful attempts to enter the residence. They then discovered an air conditioner in a window of the rear of the house, which allowed the officers to enter the home, according to the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.
The officers then woke up the family and helped them evacuate, police say.
Fire personnel later said they believe if the family wasn't evacuated the fire would have been fatal, according to the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.