3 Good Samaritans Rescue 71-Year-Old Man From Apartment Fire

PLEASANT VALLEY, NY — A 71-year-old man who was trapped by a fire in a Dutchess County apartment was rescued by three good Samaritans who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office said, shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to assist the Pleasant Valley Fire Department at a fire at the Country Commons Apartments on West Road in the town of Pleasant Valley.

Initial reports said someone was trapped in the fire, but when deputies arrived, the person was already out of the apartment.

An investigation found that a neighbor, Joshua Constable, forcibly entered the burning apartment and began trying to rescue the trapped man, who was yelling for help.

Also, two alarm-company contractors — Bruce Griffing II and Ronald Rembert — were working in the complex, and they entered the apartment and helped get the man out.

Griffing then closed the apartment door, deputies said, which helped delay the spread of the two-alarm fire.

Dutchess Sheriff Kirk A. Imperati commended the three men for their actions.

"By entering the burning apartment under heavy smoke and heat conditions, these three men displayed a selfless act of bravery that led to the rescue of a 71-year-old male from this fire," he said.

Imperati said because of the quick response and swift fire suppression by the Pleasant Valley firefighters and mutual aid departments the fire was able to be contained to the one apartment.

"The actions performed by both the citizens and firefighters saved lives and property," he said.

Pleasant Valley firefighters were assisted by the Arlington, Fairview, LaGrange, Millbrook, Roosevelt, Union Vale and East Clinton fire departments. Mobile Life Support Services took the 71-year-old man to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital. Authorities said he was later flown to Westchester Medical Center because of his burn injuries.

The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division and the Sheriff's Office Fire & Arson Investigation Unit are investigating the origin and cause of the fire.

The initial investigation indicates this was an accidental fire, the sheriff's office said.