A legendary local firefighter known for his role in stopping a massive Bethesda oil fire has died.
Robert “Bobby” Hook died earlier this week in his sleep at the age of 80.
Hook was a Vietnam War veteran, former chief at the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department and served on the department’s Board of Directors to his death.
He’s also credited with stopping the 1958 Little Falls Creek fire, a mile-long blaze that spread through the creek bed and burned through some buildings and a couple of oil storage tanks near the Butler Road Fuel Refinery in the light industrial area now known as Westbard.
It was the largest fire in Montgomery County history, with 30-foot high flames and smoke that could be seen 3,500 feet above the ground by pilots approaching National Airport.
Hook went through the flames to shut off the valve that was feeding the fire.
“They just kept hoses on us to make sure nothing happened while we were in there,” Hook told The Gazette in 2012. “There wasn’t that much fire around the valves. Most of the fire was still up in the containment walls around the tanks.”
Hook worked as a salesman at a company selling emergency vehicles and according to a Facebook posting from the Cabin John Park VFD, “knew firefighting and emergency medical services inside and out.”
“There will never be enough we can say about his contributions to others in life,” read the message. “He will be deeply missed.”
A memorial service for Hook will be held starting at noon on Sunday at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (5020 Battery Lane).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cabin John Park VFD (8001 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817) or online.
Photo via Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department
