12 Hudson Valley Families Homeless After Fire

A major fire at a Hudson Valley complex left 12 families homeless. Two local officers are being called heroes for entering a fully engulfed blaze and saving everyone, including a dog.

On Friday around 2:20 a.m., Ellenville police responded to a fire at the Emerald Pond Estates on Route 209 in Ellenville. Arriving officers noticed the D building of the complex engulfed in flames.

Officers began kicking in doors and waking up sleeping residents. All of the residents of 12 apartments were evacuated, without injury, police say.

After all of the residents were safely removed, police and firefighter John Avery Jr. went back into the burning building and saved one family’s dog

A temporary shelter has been setup at Ellenville Village Hall for the displaced residents. American Red Cross is helping out the families, many who lost everything, officials say. A GoFundMe page has been setup for the families.

Sgt. Robert Morse and Officer Ulysses Young were treated for leg injuries and smoke inhalation.

“If not for their quick response and heroic actions, there certainty would have been numerous lives lost," Ellenville Chief of Police Phillip S. Mattraction said in a press release. “Both of these officers kicked in doors and entered smoke filled apartments to evacuate and rescue residents safely from a fully engulfed burning building. They did so without hesitation and without fear for their own lives.”

Some 11 fire companies from Ulster and Sullivan Counties battled the blaze for over five hours. Around 7:30 a.m. Friday, the fire was put out.