Deputies Peter Gerardi and Alyson Miller were on patrol about 3:15 a.m. when they heard an alarm and saw flames through the glass on the first floor of the Bostwick Sales store at 789 Old Route 9, police said.
Gerardi, realizing there was an apartment above the store, ran to the back of the building with Miller, and the officers started banging on the apartment door.
As John Paterson, an officer from the village, arrived, Gerardi checked the area to make sure there were no other apartments.
The officers then brought the man and woman who lived in the apartment to a safe spot while firefighters arrived to fight the blaze.
Off-sounding alarm ignored
''They had heard the alarm, but they ignored it because apparently that alarm goes off all the time,'' Gerardi said. ''I'm sure it was horrible for them because they lost everything.''
The sheriff's office said the second-floor apartment and back side of the building became engulfed within three minutes. The fire spread from Bostwick Sales to Giggles, Twice Told and Rafael -- stores that were adjoined to the structure, police said.
The fire caused heavy damage to the building's wood frame, and police said the flames and smoke caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.
The fire was caused by a faulty wire mold outlet strip on an inside wall of Bostwick Sales, the Dut-chess County Fire Investigation Team said.
The couple was in the care of the Red Cross Wednesday night, Gerardi said, and plan to seek help with family and friends.
Gerardi was modest in describing the efforts he and his partner made Wednesday.
''It wasn't like you see on TV where the building is burning and you grab them and put them on your shoulder and run out of there,'' he said. ''We were just there at the right time.''
Lt. Gary Bashor of the sheriff's office praised the deputies, saying it is ''one of the high points'' of an officer's career -- to save people from possible death in a fire.
''It could have been a whole different story, and not a good one,'' Bashor said. ''You've got to give them credit. It's a job well done.''
The sheriff's office was assisted by the Wappingers Falls Police Department, New York State Police, Alamo ambulance and firefighters from Wappingers Falls, New Hackensack, Hughsonville, Fishkill village, Rombout, Chelsea and New Hamburg.
Your participation, suggestions and opinions on all matters will be welcomed, and only by your request, will your correspondence be published on this web site anonymously.
Please contact the Justice Team with any information regarding any matter, by CLICKING HERE or E-Mail address: Administrator@DutchessCountyJusticeTeam2003.us or telephone (845) 454-3036. (All information will be kept confidential and your protection is guaranteed)
To be updated and informed, come see us again, there is MORE TO COME................................