MONTICELLO – A police officer in Monticello is credited with saving a “differently-abled” man from an active fire in the man’s apartment. The man is wheelchair-bound, making the officer’s work more challenging.
At 8:35 a.m. on Saturday, Monticello Police received a report of smoke coming from an apartment at the Monticello Housing Authority Complex on Liberty Street in the Village of Monticello.
Monticello Police Officer Victor Agapito arrived on the scene, observed an active fire inside the dwelling, and entered the apartment through the front door to rescue the 69-year-old man, who was in a wheelchair.
Shortly thereafter, Monticello Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The blaze, which started in the kitchen area, caused extensive damage to the apartment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire. Also assisting at the incident were the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Medic Ambulance, and the American Red Cross.