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Action by CHP Officer Praised

Averted A Serious Wildfire

By Michael P. Neufeld
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Running Springs, CA – Accolades for California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Rodman continue to pour in after he placed his patrol unit behind a burning motor home to prevent it from rolling off Highway 330 on Sunday and igniting a fire.

"The quick thinking by the officer," Running Springs Fire Chief Bill Smith told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, "probably averted a serious wildfire."

California Highway Patrol officer Adam Rodman displays damage done to his unit during a motor home fire July 13 on Highway 330. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Rodman, who graciously accepted the applause of his fellow officers during Wednesday's briefing at CHP headquarters in Running Springs, was very modest and explained he was just doing his job on Sunday when he responded to the fully involved 2005 Thor motor home in a turnout at the Fifth Fountain.

But RIMOFTHEWORLD.net readers were quick to praise the veteran officer including a comment posted by Margo stating, "his action helped prevent what could have been a disaster." Margo urged her fellow posters to thank a CHP officer (or a Sheriff's deputy) the next time they come in contact with law enforcement officials. "They do much more for our safety than just writing tickets."

CHP Officer Rodman used his patrol vehicle to prevent a burning motorhome from going over the side. (Photo by .)

John M. wrote: "Preventing the motor home from starting a wildfire not only prevented the potential loss of life and property, it also saved upwards of several hundred thousand dollars in suppression costs."

(Photo by .)

At 4:25 p.m. Sunday, officer Rodman and CHP Lt. Rick Sanders responded to the motor home fire that closed Highway 330 for about an hour while Running Springs Fire Department personnel applied foam to the burning vehicle and the CHP unit. The US Forest Service and San Bernardino County Fire also assisted Running Springs Fire..

(Photo by .)

Due to the positioning of Rodman's unit, the motor home stopped rolling just a few feet from proceeding over the embankment and into heavy brush.

Rodman, who has been a CHP officer for almost 14 years, has been assigned to the Running Springs office for just over a year. He had transferred from the San Bernardino office.

See http://rimoftheworld.net/columns/neufeld/motor for original story.

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