I very vividly remember having to learn the stop, drop, and roll technique in the event of a fire. While I’ve never had to use this technique personally, I’ve always had questions about how effective it can really be in certain situations. Well, a Stockbridge, Georgia, officer didn’t have time to think about that question when he responded to a call about a burning vehicle at a gas station.
Officer T. Hoffman used his quick thinking and courage to do something that, likely, many of us wouldn’t have even considered doing during such a stressful situation. At a Raceway gas station in Stockbridge, a car caught fire and was looking to explode at any minute. Considering the size of the car, an explosion could very well set the entire gas station ablaze as well, leading to a much more catastrophic issue.
The footage shows smoke billowing from the car as other officers try to assess how to get the car outside the gas station parking lot. Instead of waiting for firefighters or more qualified personnel to arrive and assess the situation, Officer Hoffman used his own car to move the burning vehicle to a safer location. Such a simple act helped prevent a much more tragic event. The Stockbridge, Georgia, Police Department made note of Hoffman’s heroism in social posts discussing the event, saying,
“When seconds mattered, Officer Hoffman didn’t hesitate. His swift, decisive action likely prevented a much more serious incident.”
Despite how many people feel towards police in the United States, Officer Hoffman exemplified someone who truly embodies what it means to serve and protect the public. Hopefully, the person who owned the flaming vehicle was unharmed and cared for; it looked like whatever happened must have been pretty devastating.
There is no doubt that his actions are deemed heroic by the community, and I can only hope that the department honors him the way they should. At the end of the day, these are the people who work so hard that not going home at the end of the day is a genuine possibility.
