SULLIVAN COUNTY — On Saturday, September 29 at approximately 1:30 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a report of a fire at the Sunoco Country Store located at 5 Center Street in the Village of Jeffersonville. The fire had originated in a propane fuel tank line located at the rear of the building. When the Jeffersonville Fire Department arrived, the fire was out but the line was still leaking. An investigation by Sullivan County Bureau of Fire Investigators revealed that the propane tank fuel line had been intentionally damaged and the leaking gas had been intentionally ignited. Sheriff Mike Schiff, who was nearby at the funeral of Lorraine Gempler when the call came in, remembers firefighters and police officers suddenly rushing off. "Initially, we weren't sure what had happened," said the Sheriff. When firefighters reached the scene, the fire had been put out just moments before by a good Samaritan who grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside the store. "The scene was still dangerous when the fire department arrived as gas was still leaking. The fire had damaged an 8 foot by 10 foot section of the outside wall," said the Sheriff. Mike Schiff identified the good Samaritan as Craig Lanese of Jeffersonville, who is a regular customer at the Sunoco Country Store. "Mr. Lanese is a hero," said Schiff. "He held it down until the fire department could get there and turn off the tanks. A major disaster was averted." The ensuing investigation led Sheriff's Detectives to Jacques A. Pluss, 65, of Kenoza Lake, who they believe damaged the fuel tank line and then set the leaking gas on fire. Pluss was caught on video surveillance walking behind the building just prior to the incident. Pluss was arrested on Friday October 12, 2018 and charged with the felony of Arson in the 2nd degree. The defendant was arraigned before Town of Callicoon Judge Edward T. McKenna and sent to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. He is due back in court Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m.