{"id":13744,"date":"2016-02-29T21:04:02","date_gmt":"2016-02-29T21:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13744"},"modified":"2016-02-29T21:04:02","modified_gmt":"2016-02-29T21:04:02","slug":"to-the-rescue-off-duty-firefighter-rescues-semi-driver-from-fiery-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13744","title":{"rendered":"To the Rescue: Off-duty firefighter rescues semi driver from fiery crash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watch the Report HERE\u203a\u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (January 26, 2016)-\u00a0Most people would run from a scene involving a semi and fire, but not Decatur Township fireman Paul Blanford.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just grabbed a hold of him and dragged him so he wouldn`t get burned up,\u201d said Blanford.<\/p>\n

Even though he wasn\u2019t working when the truck crashed in Johnson County and caught fire back in January, Blanford still rushed to rescue the semi driver.<\/p>\n

He pulled the man away from his truck and Blanford even gave him his coat to keep warm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I tried to talk to him but he was kind of disoriented, he couldn`t really communicate very well,\u201d said Blanford.<\/p>\n

We first featured this story Fox 59<\/a> in early January.<\/p>\n

Man of Paul\u2019s co-workers on the Decatur Township Fire Department saw the original piece.<\/p>\n

is boss reminds him of his five minutes of fame often.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive him a hard time, definitely. The next round is on him!\u201d said Lt. Dan Marshall with the Decatur Township Fire Department.<\/p>\n

But all jokes aside, everyone on the department realizes Paul risked his own life that night to save a complete stranger.<\/p>\n

They say that\u2019s the type of man he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you get with Paul, you get a guy that will do whatever it takes to save somebody\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a hero and he did the right thing,\u201d said Lt. Marshall.<\/p>\n

Medics said the semi-driver suffered a medical issue and that\u2019s what caused him to crash his vehicle.<\/p>\n

Fox 59 and Gandolfo\u2019s Deli <\/a>surprised Paul with breakfast at the fire station as way \u201cthank you\u201d for risking his life and coming to the rescue.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"