Retired Los Angeles County fire fighter Bob Hook spent his career answering the call for others. After his ALS diagnosis, he found himself surrounded by the same fire fighter community he had spent years supporting. His story, and his family’s commitment to carrying his mission forward, reminds us why the fight against ALS matters.
Some people leave a lasting impression not only through what they accomplish, but through the way they make others feel, the people they bring together, and the difference they make in their communities. Bob Hook was one of those people.
Bob Hook, retired Los Angeles County fire fighter and proud member of IAFF Local 1014, pictured in 2023.
Bob was a retired Los Angeles County fire fighter and a proud member of IAFF Local 1014. Throughout his career, he answered the call to serve others and supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) through the International Association of Fire Fighters’ (IAFF) Fill the Boot campaign. For decades, fire fighters like Bob helped raise critical funds to advance research, support families, and improve the lives of people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases.
None of us could have imagined that Bob would one day find himself on the other side of that partnership.
After being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Bob became part of the community he had spent so many years helping. His experience brought a deeply personal meaning to a partnership that has connected MDA and the IAFF for more than 72 years.
Bob passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2026. While we are heartbroken by his loss, we are grateful for the opportunity to have known him, heard his story, and witnessed his determination to make a difference for others facing ALS.
A family legacy of service
One of the things that made Bob’s story especially meaningful was the generations of service within his family. Bob followed in his father’s footsteps as a fire fighter, and he had the opportunity to see his own son continue that family legacy with Orange County Fire Authority Station 40.
Service was more than a profession for Bob. It was part of his family’s story and a commitment passed from one generation to the next.
Even after his ALS diagnosis, Bob remained focused on the people he loved and the milestones he wanted to share with them. Six years after his diagnosis, he continued to make it a priority to celebrate important family moments. That determination to be present for his family, while also using his experience to help others, is something I will always remember.
In my role with MDA’s Fire Fighter Partnerships team, I had the privilege of getting to know Bob and his family as we worked together to share his story. I recently had the opportunity to spend time with his wife and daughter over dinner in Los Angeles. It was a meaningful reminder that behind every story we share is a family whose life has been changed by ALS, and whose love and commitment continue long after a diagnosis.
Bob’s wife has expressed her desire to continue his efforts to raise awareness and advance the fight against ALS. It is an extraordinary way to honor his life and ensure that his voice continues to make a difference.
Understanding why fire fighters face an increased risk of ALS
Bob also wanted people to understand the connection between firefighting and ALS. His experience was personal, but the concern extends far beyond one individual or one family.
Research suggests that fire fighters may face approximately twice the risk of developing ALS compared with the general population. While researchers are continuing to investigate the reasons behind this increased risk, potential occupational factors and environmental exposures warrant further study.
That is why MDA is supporting the Champion Insights Study, a national research initiative led by Answer ALS, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, and the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI).
The study is designed to better understand why certain populations—including fire fighters and other first responders, military veterans, and elite athletes—experience higher rates of ALS. By examining genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, researchers hope to identify important clues that can advance our understanding of ALS and help accelerate future research and treatment development.
Through its support of Champion Insights, MDA is helping ensure fire fighters are represented in this important research. The study also provides an opportunity for eligible people living with ALS to contribute to research from home.
Learn more about the Champion Insights Study and eligibility requirements.
A partnership that answers the call
MDA’s relationship with the IAFF began in 1954 through Fill the Boot. Over more than seven decades, fire fighters have raised more than $720 million to support MDA’s mission leading to over 30+ FDA approved treatments and improving care for families living with ALS and over 300 related neuromuscular conditions. Today, that partnership continues to evolve. MDA and the IAFF are working together to better understand the relationship between firefighting and ALS, strengthen awareness and resources for fire fighters and their families, advance research, and address policy and access-to-care challenges affecting those diagnosed with ALS.
Bob understood the importance of this work because he experienced both sides of the partnership. He knew what it meant to stand with a community and help families access the resources they need. He also knew what it meant to need that support himself.
His story reminds us that the work does not end with a diagnosis. We must continue investing in research, improving access to specialized care, supporting families, and advocating for people living with ALS.
For me, honoring Bob means continuing the conversations he wanted to have and making sure other fire fighters and their families know they are not alone. It means helping his family carry forward the commitment that mattered so much to him.
Bob spent his career answering the call for others. Now it is our turn to answer the call for him—and for every family facing ALS.
In memory of Bob Hook of the Los Angeles County Fire Department L1014, we invite you to honor his life, service, and legacy by making a donation in his name. Bob’s dedication to serving others will continue to make a difference through your generosity. In honor of Bob Hook, memorial contributions may be made through MDA’s partnership with IAFF, with 100% of donations received through this memorial going strictly toward ALS research, helping advance the search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Donations may be made here.
To learn more about MDA’s work with the IAFF, including resources for fire fighters and families affected by ALS, visit MDA’s ALS Resources for Fire Fighters.
Bob, thank you for your service, your generosity, and your determination to make a difference. Your legacy lives on in your family, your fellow fire fighters, and the many lives that will be touched by the work you helped inspire.
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