Nyack Firefighter Injured in Blaze That Destroyed His Home

After being dragged unconscious from a blazing house, a former New York firefighter is fighting for his life.

Early on Sunday, July 27, a house fire on Summit Street in Nyack caused significant injuries to Richard Apostle.

As previously reported by the Daily Voice, the fire started at a house on Summit Street in the Village of Nyack at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 27. Officers on the scene discovered the house on fire and heard voices within.

From the first story, a guy and an old woman were saved. However, according to Orangetown Police, a third inmate, Richard Apostle, a former Village of Nyack firefighter, was still trapped upstairs.

To get to Apostle on the second level, two cops had to crawl through thick smoke and flames. He was brought back down to safety after being discovered unconscious. He was sent in critical condition to Westchester Medical Center. After receiving care at Nyack Hospital, the other two residents were allowed to go.

Additionally, three police officers who participated in the rescue were admitted to the hospital.

With assistance from nearby agencies, including Central Nyack, Orangeburg, Valley Cottage, Piermont, and West Nyack, the Nyack Fire Department put out the fire. Additionally, Rockland Paramedics and several EMS teams responded.

According to a GoFundMe account set up by Patricia Robinson, Apostle is still in the ICU with severe lung and chest ailments brought on by the heat and smoke. He has third-degree burns and is under sedation while he awaits surgery.

Apostle lost all of his valuables, clothing, personal things, and vital documents in the fire, in addition to his medical battle.

According to Robinson, Richie has dedicated years of his life to helping the community he now needs support from, so this loss is particularly devastating. It’s time to give that support back.

The goal of the campaign is to pay for long-term rehabilitation, basic requirements, temporary accommodation, and medical costs. It raised several thousand dollars as of Friday.

Other residents of the house were also displaced by the fire. Residents are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

Orangetown Police, the Nyack incident Inspector, and the Rockland County Fire Investigations Unit are investigating the cause of the incident.

Donations can be made through GoFundMe by those who are interested.