News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Motor Home Fire Impacts Highway 330 (Update 3)

Motor Home Fire Impacts Highway 330 (Update 3)

CHP Unit Halts Roll Over the Side

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, July 14, 2008

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Update 3 — Monday, July 14 — 1:30 p.m.

Running Springs, CA – The California Highway Patrol has released additional details about the incident Sunday afternoon involving a burning motor home, a CHP unit and the closure of Highway 330 for about an hour.

In a media advisory released by the CHP, it was noted CHP Dispatch received a report of a motor home on fire at 4:25 p.m. CHP Lieutenant Rick Sanders was the first to arrive at the scene on Highway 330 at Fifth Fountain.

CHP Lieutenant Rick Sanders (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Lt. Sanders insured all parties were safe and out of the 2005 Thor motor home and a second CHP unit arrived on scene. The patrol car was positioned behind the burning motor home for the protection of life and property of those on scene should it begin to roll.

"Within minutes," the news release stated, "the motor home did begin to roll and struck the patrol unit on its driver's side. Due to the positioning of the unit, the motor home stopped, failing to proceed over the embankment."

At this point, Running Springs Fire arrived at the incident and quickly contained the motor home fire that destroyed the vehicle driven by 48-year-old Charles Peterson from Highland.

Running Springs Fire was later assisted by water tankers by the US Forest Service and San Bernardino County Fire. Caltrans was called to conduct cleanup operations in the turnout where the incident occurred. The CHP unit had to be towed following the incident.

Additional CHP units closed Highway 330 for roughly 59 minutes. The CHP reported there was no loss of lives and no injury to any emergency personnel.

Update 2 — Sunday, July 13 — 5:50 p.m.

Running Springs, CA — CHP has opened Highway 330 in both directions. However, up bound traffic is being escorted slowly from City Creek Station to the middle passing lane to insure emergency personnel safety.

Update 1 — Sunday, July 13 — 4:53 p.m.

Running Springs, CA — A CHP unit placed in front of a burning motor home has prevented the large vehicle from going over the side of Highway 330 in the area of the middle passing lanes.

The roadway will reportedly be closed for at least 30 minutes according to scanner transmissions.

Running Springs Fire Department - Fire/Rescue from Station 50. (Photo by VickiW.)

Running Springs Fire responded to the fire with units from other jurisdictions also summoned but were quickly cancelled as the first responders were able to knock down the fire.

CHP dispatch reported that had the unit not been placed in front of the burning vehicle it would have gone over the side and caused a wildfire.

Aerial support was also on order but never activated.

Caltrans Highway 330 (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A rather large tow truck will be required to remove what's left of the motor home according to the CHP.

Original Story — Sunday, July 13 — 4:40 p.m.

Running Springs, CA — A motor home fire on Highway 330 has forced the California Highway Patrol to close the roadway.

Motor home is reported to be fully involved.

Additional details shortly.