Firefighter’s Wallet Stolen As He Saved Upstate Family From Blaze
When you’re out at a bar, business is typically done for the day and you don't expect it back. Maybe you’re blowing off some steam after a hard day or celebrating a successful workweek. Over the weekend, some Capital Region firefighters proved that heroes are never truly off the clock – even while some lowlifes prey on their selflessness.
Around midnight on Sunday, some off-duty Colonie fire fighters were enjoying a drink at a bar on Watervliet’s Third Avenue when they heard a massive booming from outside. As patrons poured out of the front of the bar to investigate, the firefighters ran out to discover an inferno threatening a house one street over.
To The Rescue
According to Sidewinder Photography, the off-duty men took action without hesitation. While one phoned in the fire to a 911 dispatcher, the others ran to the neighboring home to rouse the occupants and warn them of the dangerous blaze, which you can see here:
All the residents were safely evacuated before the Watervliet Fire Department and Watervliet Arsenal Fire and Emergency Service arrived. Outside of some melted siding, the home did not sustain any damage. Officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
No Good Deed
When the firefighters returned to the bar to collect their belongings they left behind in their rush to help, they realized somebody had stolen one of their wallets from their table. The thief ran off into the night while everyone was distracted outside, absconding with a credit card.
Watervliet Police do have a suspect in the theft that they’re currently seeking. Since there were people filming the fire on their phones, the suspect was seen leaving in their videos. See more of New York's wanted persons for August below.