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Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department

1 month ago

#neverforget ... See MoreSee Less

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Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department

2 months ago

On Saturday morning August 10, Volunteer and Careers members assigned to the Chillum Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department and personnel from the Takoma Park Volunteer Department honored the 50th anniversary of the Line of Duty Deaths of FF Harmon and Hobstetter, both members of The Chillum Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department.

On a hot August night in 1969, a line of violent thunderstorms, with winds in excess of 55 mph, barreled through the MD/DC area, and caused extensive flooding throughout the region. The usually trickling and docile Sligo Creek ,suddenly turned into a torrent of water with 5 foot swells ,that caused the creek to crest over the bridge on New Hampshire Avenue and submerge cars within minutes.

Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Knowles and their 5 year old son were in their family car and had just turned off New Hampshire Ave onto Sligo Creek Parkway, when they were hit with rushing flood waters, that came up as high as the car door handles. The raging water swept them and their automobile some 2 blocks down stream. The three abandoned their car and, with the help of 18-year-old Colin Turner of Takoma Park, the four navigated downstream until they reached, climbed up on, and clung to the railings of the New Hampshire Avenue bridge.

The Chillum-Adelphi ambulance and hook & ladder were the first units to arrive and emergency rescue operations got underway with the 3-man team of Robert Harmon, Charles Robert Hobstetter, and Bob Jacobs. Firefighter Robert J. Harmon Jr. and Firefighter Charles Robert Hobstetter, were secured with lifelines that were being manned by Firefighter Bob Jacobs. The two firefighters were making their way to the four stranded on the bridge, when suddenly the road collapsed, plunging Firefighter Harmon and Firefighter Hobstetter into the raging water and under the bridge.
Firefighter Harmon, still attached to the lifeline, was pulled from the water by Firefighter Jacobs. Firefighter Harmon was transported to an area hospital in cardiac arrest/drowning, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:30 a.m. When the road collapsed, Firefighter Hobstetter became separated from the lifeline. He was swept 1/2 mile downstream and his body was located at approximately 3 a.m.
…….
Firefighter Robert J. Harmon Jr. was 22 years old and had served 18 months.
Firefighter Charles Robert Hobstetter was 31 years old and had served 8 1/2 years.

Courtesy of the Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation.

The link below was a Washington Post article on the storm and the incident.

www.fosc.org/FloodFiremen.htm?fbclid=IwAR3ZrHQDTVNJGzOPobeiZMHmueEzw8vvfTWe_CFkuffuuLZWKQ7RhuCq-Dk ... See MoreSee Less

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Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department

3 months ago

On August 9, 1969, the Chillum Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department experienced a tragic loss when Privates Robert Harmon and Robert Hobstetter paid the ultimate sacrifice while attempting a swift water rescue near the bridge over Sligo Creek on New Hampshire Ave.

In memory of the 50 Year Anniversary of the Line of Duty Deaths, there will be a Memorial Service held on August 10, 2019. Please see below for service details:

Date: August 10, 2019
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Sligo Creek Pkwy ... See MoreSee Less

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We will never forget. Sharon & Danny Healy (life member (CAVFD Co. 44).

I rode in on that tragedy on PG truck 14😢

Month	EMS	Fire	Truck
TTL
Jan	291	158	29
Feb	274	150	30
Mar	267	153	32
Apr	295	198	47
May	297	179	37
Jun	291	184	37
Jul	323	229	14
Aug	273	216	OOS
Sep
Oct	306	184	71
Nov	284	196	48
Dec	322	181	36

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