Trooper Saves Family From Burning Home in Apalachin

New York State Police say an Apalachin man is lucky to be alive thanks to the fast actions of a State Trooper on his way to an academy graduation ceremony, the man's father and a brave neighbor.

State Police Sergeant Robert Bloom III, in his dress-kilt uniform, was on his way to play in the Pipes and Drums unit at the Broome County Law Enforcement graduation ceremonies at around noon November 1 when he noticed smoke coming from a home in Tioga Terrace.

Once on the scene, the Sergeant found a bed-ridden man was trapped inside.  The Trooper and a neighbor were able to help the man's father get him into a wheelchair and out of the home, which was completely destroyed.

All four were taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and all were in stable condition.

State Police say Sergeant Bloom is a seven-year veteran with the State Police, had worked previously in the Endwell and Deposit barracks before becoming Sergeant and working now out of the Troop C headquarters in Sidney.