LIBERTY  — A structure fire at an apartment building at 52 Lincoln Place in the Village of Liberty on Friday evening, January 26, led to several county fire departments being called for mutual aid. 

Liberty Fire Chief Mark Johnstone arrived on scene within three minutes of the call at 9:06 p.m. and said that he observed heavy fire coming from the first floor in the front of the building, which quickly extended to the second and third floor. 

A second alarm was transmitted, with the following departments responding with mutual aid: White Sulphur Springs, Livingston Manor, Loch Sheldrake, Monticello, Rock Hill, Roscoe and Town of Bethel FAST. Standing by coverage was also provided by Youngsville at Liberty, Hurleyville at Loch Sheldrake and Wurtsboro at Rock Hill. 

EMS coverage was provided by Mobile Medic, while the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire Coordinator John Hauschild was also on scene. 

Five residents of the apartment building were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by Red Cross. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated by the Village of Liberty Police Department, Sullivan County Bureau of Fire and NYS Fire Investigators.