Retired firefighter, wife help rescue man during Aurora fire

(AURORA, Ind.) – Shannon Bradley has watched her husband run out the door and respond to emergencies before. 

She didn’t expect that to happen again this week. 

Buck Bradley served on the Aurora Fire Department for 15 years before retiring in 2002. 

On Monday, Shannon was listening to the scanner and heard about a fire on Lincoln Street. 

“I googled the address and saw it was behind Whitelock’s Tavern and Buck was there putting in a new window,” Shannon recalled. 

She decided to call Buck who answered, walked outside and saw the nearby home on fire. 

Buck hung up and and ran toward the home.

“He said the police officer got there when he did. The officer tried to kick the door in and couldn't get the door open enough to get in,” Bradley said. 

Behind the door, was a 77-year-old man who had collapsed and was blocking the entrance.

Buck, the police officer and paramedics were determined to save the man. 

“The paramedics got there and both of them were small enough to get in the door, and then Buck and the police officer pulled the paramedics out with the man and into the yard,” she said. 

The victim was flown to a Cincinnati hospital for smoke inhalation and burns. His condition is still unknown.

Shannon and Buck have been married for 34 years and him answering the call is no surprise to her. She added that he doesn’t seek any attention either. 

“You can take the firefighter out of the fire, but you can’t take the fire out of the firefighter,” Shannon said. 

Shannon also said, “It was just instincts that kicked in. He would help anyone, whether it was a fire or not.”

While the condition of the 77-year-old man remains unknown, the victim was given a fighting chance because of Shannon calling Buck, along with the first responders.