house fire

Marine Corps Veteran Rescues 92-Year-Old Man from Branford House Fire

A Marine Corps veteran rescued a 92-year-old man from a Branford house fire on Tuesday morning.

Firefighters said the fire broke out at a home on Cedar Street shortly before 10 a.m. and two people were trapped. Mutual aid was called in from East Haven, Guilford and North Branford.

Marine Corps veteran Shawn Thaller said he was driving home from work when he noticed smoke coming out of the back of the house. He said his first instinct was to go over and stop.

"I asked the gentleman on site if anybody was still in the building and they told me that there was still a 90-year-old man in the front of the house. So naturally I jumped out and I kicked down the door, pulled him out of the house," Thaller said. The other man had already gotten out of the home, Thaller added.

According to Thaller, the man he rescued didn't realize the house was on fire.

"He was actually rather upset because I was kicking down his door and he was unaware that the house was on fire," Thaller said.

Both people who were rescued refused medical treatment, firefighters said. No injuries were reported.

When asked if he thought twice about going into the house Thaller added, "No, i'm a Marine Corps veteran, I don't think twice about these things."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Contact Us