On Thursday afternoon, an elderly couple and their pets were rescued from a blazing motorhome by an off-duty Amtrak detective and a New York State police trooper, according to official reports.
The incident occurred a little before 3 p.m. on a highway near Catskill in upstate New York when the motorhome suddenly caught fire, as stated in a press release by the New York State Police.
The couple, Raymond J. Hanas, 82, and Patricia A. Grabley, 81, were trapped inside their 2005 Allegro RV, which was towing a Jeep. The vehicle experienced a "mechanical failure" and subsequently burst into flames.
Scott DiBisceglio, an off-duty Amtrak detective, was heading southbound when he noticed the RV engulfed in flames, as reported by News 12 Hudson Valley. He immediately pulled over and rushed to assist the trapped couple, a fact confirmed by Amtrak to CBS News.
A state trooper who arrived at the scene managed to break the RV's windows with a baton, rescuing the elderly couple and their pets, including a cat, News 12 reported.
The Catskill Fire Company dispatched two fire engines, one of which was a rescue tanker, to put out the fire on the "tour bus type RV."
Both Hanas and Grabley were assessed at the scene for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. However, they both refused further medical attention, state police said.
The state police praised the troopers' swift actions, stating, "The quick actions of the State Troopers undoubtedly saved the lives of this family, preventing a tragic ending, giving them a chance to celebrate the upcoming New Year."