Off-Duty Joliet Firefighter Ran Into Burning Home, Rescuing Family

JOLIET, IL — Matt Hornbuckle, who grew up in Plainfield, was recently honored as the VFW Firefighter of the Year for the Joliet Fire Department where Hornbuckle works as a captain.

Joliet Fire Jeff Carey provided Joliet Patch with the nomination letter that he submitted in preparation for Hornbuckle's awards banquet ceremony.

Here are the main details for why Hornbuckle won the award:

"On the morning of Sunday October 1, 2023, off duty Joliet Fire Department Captain Matt Hornbuckle was driving to a paintball tournament when a simple daydream caused his day to veer from his routine route that would instead place him at the right place, at the right time to save a family.

"It was around 0730 hours, Captain Matt Hornbuckle a 23-year veteran of the Joliet Fire Department, was driving down Meadow Ave in Rockdale, IL when he noticed large column of black smoke rising off in the distance. As he continued closer, he discovered a one-story house with a front porch and saw that the entire front was completely engulfed in fire. There were flames blowing out from the front of the house and dark black smoke chugging from the attic area. Hornbuckle stopped to help, noticing a lady standing in the street in front of the burning home, who appeared to be in a panic, attempting to call 911. After finding she was a passerby, he helped her calmly call 911 and provided the location of the fire to the dispatcher.

"It was at this time Captain Hornbuckle used his training and experience to conduct a size up of the scene ... Wearing only his paintball clothes and flip-flops, displaying courage and bravery, with disregard for his own safety, Captain Hornbuckle crouched low, raced under the flames and smoke, opened the side gate, hurried through, and dashed to the first-floor rear door. As he began to bang on the door, two first-floor residents opened it, and were helped to exit the house.

"While helping them away from the house, Hornbuckle asked if anyone was still inside. The first-floor residents replied 'no.' Captain Hornbuckle made his way back to the street in front of the house to wait for the fire department, when suddenly a neighbor across the street began yelling “a family lives in the basement.” Hornbuckle was hurrying back towards the inferno when a neighbor, who could see over the six-foot fence, began shouting 'there’s people in the basement, there is a family in the basement.' ... Just as he began to kick it in, a man opened the door. Hornbuckle told him the house is on fire and he needs to get out. The man instantly turns around runs straight back into the smoke hazed basement. Captain Hornbuckle, rushing after him into the basement, finds an additional three groggy children and a woman in there. The dad and Hornbuckle grabbed the kids and carried them out of the basement while he guided the mom to safety in the fresh air. Once the family is together outside, the dad suddenly rushes back towards the door and enters the smoke-filled basement in search of the family’s pets.

"Before the reality of what just happened could set in, Captain Hornbuckle once again ran into the burning house in search of the dad. Upon entering the smokey basement, he was able to find the dad who was searching for the family pets. Hornbuckle along with the dad were able to bring the family pets to safety including several cats and a dog.

"When the entire family and pets were out of the house, Captain Hornbuckle directed them to a garage in the rear of the property for safe shelter. Hornbuckle was eventually able to make his way back around to the front of the house, to help the first arriving engine crew, East Joliet Engine 52, with pulling initial attack lines allowing them to get water on the fire.

"For his heroic actions and unwavering bravery, I present the Hundred Club Valor Award to Captain Matthew Hornbuckle."