Forestry Equipment Operator

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

10/3/1958

Special Act Award (Gold)

On October, 3, 1958, Forestry Equipment Operator Vernon L. Dupper performed an extraordinary act of heroism at great personal risk to his own safety and life. While working on the Norum fire near Monrovia, Mr. Dupper was operating one of three bulldozers being led by two "swampers" in the construction of a line up a long ridge on the east side of the fire. At about five in the afternoon, the fire was burning in the canyon west of these men, making their positions unsafe. The second Los Angeles County fire dozer was able to return down the completed section of line just minutes before the fire fanned the line. Dupper, unable to follow the first dozer to safety, was preparing to follow the second dozer back down the hill after it became obvious that the fast traveling fire would cross the entire line. At this point, though he realized that the bulldozer he was operating provided the only protection available to the two swampers who didn't have a chance to outrun the fire on foot. Giving up his last opportunity to retreat down the hill, he returned to the two men on foot who were now surrounded by fire. The three crawled under the machine for the protection it afforded. Though all were badly burned the quick thinking, courage and unselfishness of Vernon L. Dupper saved the other two men from almost certain death.