08/10/2026
Today is the 57th anniversary of the Line of Duty Deaths of F/F Robert J. Harmon and F/F Charles Robert Hobstetter of the Chillum Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department.
Volunteer and Career members of Station 34 visited the site and remembered the sacrifices made that night.
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 two 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 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.
Please take a moment and remember their sacrifices on August 10, 1969.
