There are two CFD units that are being shown in production at Crimson-Fire HERE. One is an aerial and the other is an engine. Both appear to be nearing completion.
The final stages of work is being completed on this new engine being built by Crimson for Chicago. Crimson photo
#1 by Mike Guzzi Boston Ma on March 26, 2011 - 3:04 PM
Thanks again Bill, I just guess the photos (E23 & E14) have not been updated to reflect current apparatus in service, its a great webpage. Keep up the great work you all do.
#2 by Bill Post on March 26, 2011 - 9:39 AM
The 1978 model 2000-GPM engine that was converted into a spare squad in 1997 was also an American LaFrance. All together the CFD had converted about 4 former engine companies into spare squads during the 90s.
#3 by Bill Post on March 26, 2011 - 9:33 AM
Mike, Engine 23 has been running with a new 2009 model Spartan Crimson for over a year already. As far as Engine 23’s 2000 ALF if you scroll down the page a bit you’ll find (that to everyone’s surprise) the pump is being removed and it is being converted into a (spare) squad.
This isn’t the first time that the CFD has converted engine apparatus into spare squads. During the early to mid 1990’s the CFD had converted a 1973 and a 1975 Seagrave engine into a spare squads and then they had become the second sections to Squads 2 and 5 when their Snorkel Squad rigs were getting “top heavy”. The CFD also had converted a Ford/Seagrave engine into a spare squad, and when Squad 1 was running with a single piece 1996 HME/Saulsbury and it was involved in an accident the shops had converted a 1978 model former 2000-GPM engine into a squad for Squad 1 until they had a new cab installed on the HME/Saulsbury.
#4 by Josh Boyajian on March 26, 2011 - 8:03 AM
Mike to answer your question, I believe old Engine 23 is getting a box on the back of it for Special Operations and E23 has a new 2010 Crimson engine.
#5 by Mike Guzzi Boston Ma on March 25, 2011 - 2:54 PM
What happened to engine 23?s ALF, is it still in service or is it in the spare fleet? Question on this, in the photos, E23 has an ALF. What are they running today? Did they get assigned a hand me down or new pump?
#6 by EUGENE O on March 25, 2011 - 12:10 PM
I recently saw engine co. 80 running with a spare rig, E122’s old 2001 unit. is engine 80 going ALS and
getting a new rig?
#7 by danny on March 25, 2011 - 10:31 AM
thanks bill I kinda want a pic of tl 62 and tl 27 now
#8 by Bill Post on March 25, 2011 - 4:48 AM
Danny I just caught your question about former Tower Ladder 62, and while I don’t have any photo’s to share I do know the story. First, Truck 62 was a tower ladder for over seven years, so I really wouldn’t call it brief. If you really want to know what company was a tower ladder ‘briefly,’ then go a few miles northwest of Truck 62 to Truck 27, because Truck 27 was Tower Ladder 27 before Truck 62 became a tower ladder by about eight months. Tower Ladder 27 was one of the six ‘original’ tower ladder companies on the CFD. It had become a tower ladder during March of 1986, and apparently it was able to fit into the station, because they kept it as Tower Ladder 27 until there was a major rehabbing and rebuilding (more or less) of Engine 62 and Tower Ladder 27’s house beginning around November 17, 1986. From November 17, 1986 until March 10 of 1988, Engine 62’s house was closed and there was a major temporary relocation of apparatus. Engine 62 was relocated to Engine 93’s quarters, while Truck 27 was relocated to Engine 75’s quarters, while Engine 75 had been relocated to Engine 115’s quarters, and Battalion 22 was relocated to Engine 80’s quarters.
On November 16th of 1986 (the day before the major relocations) Truck 62 and Truck 27 had exchanged rigs, which in effect made Truck 62 into a tower ladder company. It turned out that Truck 27’s tower ladder wouldn’t fit into Engine 75’s quarters. On March 10, 1988 (when the companies went back in service at Engine 62’s quarters) the fire department had decided to let Truck 62 keep the tower ladder that had belonged to Truck 27, making Truck 62 ‘officially’ Tower Ladder 62.
At the time, there were still only six tower ladders that were in service, but in November of that year (1988) Trucks 34, 5, and 63 also became tower companies when they received new 1988 E-One tower ladders. When Tower Ladder 34 went in service, 103rd street had become the Still and Box alarm boundary line of Tower Ladders 34 and 62. Tower Ladder 62 would then respond as the tower ladder (or third truck) south of 103rd street on a Still and Box alarm.
In March of 1993, Tower Ladder 62’s rig was given to Truck 37, which made Truck 37 into a tower ladder, and Tower Ladder 62 back into an ordinary truck company.
I’m pretty sure that the reason they exchanged rigs at the time was because there were more fires (at that time in the 17th and other nearby battalions) and there was a ‘Tower Ladder gap’ in the 17th Battalion. The southern part of the battalion was covered by Tower Ladder 34 and the western and northern parts of the battalion were covered by Tower Ladder 39, which would have to respond from 2215 W 51st (almost Western Avenue).
Since then, one additional tower ladder has gone in service as Tower Ladder 54. All of the the other nine tower ladders are assigned to the companies that they were originally assigned to.
#9 by danny on March 24, 2011 - 11:50 PM
thanks joe for the info… so does anyone have any info on TL 62?
#10 by chris on March 24, 2011 - 9:41 PM
any chance the city would take the 88 E-One spare tower or the 96 Pierce tower from O’Hare and use them in the city? they don’t really need two spares at O’Hare.
#11 by joe on March 24, 2011 - 8:58 PM
Tower Ladder 34’s main has been removed and the CFD is going forward with plans to make the 2002 Pierce into 5-2-2. Tower 34 will keep their 1988 E-One (E-265) for a while. Sadly they have already had an accident with that tower ladder and they are running in shop spare E-264.
#12 by Bill Post on March 24, 2011 - 11:48 AM
Eugene, there had been tentative plans to remove Tower Ladder 34’s Tower Ladder and to convert the apparatus into 522 ( the Lumber Carrier Truck) of the Collapse Rescue Task Force. It would have replaced the current 522 ( 1995 Seagrave). I don’t know if those plans are still in effect however.
#13 by EUGENE O on March 24, 2011 - 11:31 AM
can anyone tell me when and if tower ladder 34 will get their 2002 Pierce truck back?
#14 by Bill Post on March 24, 2011 - 12:28 AM
Joe, while I can’t tell you if it was rig E-253 that was used, I understand that after one of the tower ladders had been involved in an accident with damage to the ladder, another tower ladder had at least part of its ladder removed and used to replace the damaged one. I don’t know many more details then that except that I do know that Tower Ladder 23 had been involved in an accident sometime ago. I don’t know if it was E-253 that was “cannibalized” for it’s ladder or not. I’m sure that someone out there does have more specific details then what I’m giving you.
#15 by joe on March 23, 2011 - 5:09 PM
also does anybody have any history on the 1st Tower Ladder 10 (#E253)? the 1st tower ladders E250, E251, E252 are still in the spare fleet. was E253 in a accident, fall apart?
thanks!
#16 by joe on March 23, 2011 - 5:06 PM
Old E23 is being made into a squad box by the CFD shops. The pump has been removed and various changes are been made to it. 5-2-2 was Truck 26 complete with bullet holes.
#17 by danny on March 23, 2011 - 3:44 PM
and also what happened to engine 23’s ALF, is it still in service or is it in the spare fleet?
#18 by danny on March 23, 2011 - 3:43 PM
what company had the rig that became 5-2-2 and why did they convert it …. and my other question is does anyone have pics to share of truck 62 when they were a tower ladder briefly .. I remember I had one as a kid but no longer do. and any info on why 62 was a tower and then wasn’t
#19 by Dennis McGuire Jr. on March 23, 2011 - 8:08 AM
Bill yes, last year their overhead doors were replaced with the roll up doors. They did some work on the top part of the door opening to have a place to put the door opener.
#20 by Bill Sweeney on March 22, 2011 - 4:57 PM
Back in October Engine 120 did have new, wider bay doors installed which took about two months to complete. As of today, they are still using the 1999 HME/Luverne. In regards to Truck 59 getting a new rig, I spoke with one of the FFs on the truck when they were on a change of quarters at Engine 92’s house. He told me that they have the truck ready and waiting for them at the shops, but they haven’t been told to pick it up yet. He did say it would be very soon.
On a related note, does anyone have any information on Engine 1 having their bi-fold bay doors replaced with roll-up doors like all the other houses? I thought I heard something about that.
#21 by Dennis McGuire Jr. on March 22, 2011 - 5:52 AM
Bob C. thanks for catching that, I was doing two things at once. Engine 104 is not ALS so maybe Truck 61 will become ALS and get a new rig. Nothing happens until they back the rig in the door.
Engine 120 was assigned D-571 about a year ago because the captain of the house wanted a better running rig to get up the hill in Beverly.
#22 by Bill Post on March 21, 2011 - 6:53 PM
Dennis thanks for adding 673 and 676 to my list of rigs that are older than Tower Ladder 34. I inadvertently left them out, however I did include 671 as well as the Reserve Snorkel as being older then Tower Ladder 34.
I did mention that Engine 50 was using a 1995 Spartan and that Engines 94, 109, 28, 121, 80, and 104 were using 1997 HME Luvernes however.
As far as Engine 120 goes, I have them using a 1998 HME Luverne that was originally assigned to Engine 1 (D-561), which was the second 1998 model of HME Luvernes.
There is one 1999 model (D-571) that was assigned to Engine 125 which had been in the spare pool since 2004.
Was 125’s old rig recently reassigned to Engine 120?
Since when did Engine 74 move in with Truck 61? Engine 104 has been located with Truck 61 since moving in with them in 1986 after spending over a year and a half at Engine 1’s quarters. Engine 74 is located about a mile and a half north of Engine 104 on Ewing south of 106th street.
#23 by Bill Post on March 21, 2011 - 5:53 PM
Jacob, Engine 120 was supposed to be getting a new Spartan Crimson about two years ago, however the door to the engine’s bay in the station was found to be a little to narrow for the unit so the engine that would have gone to 120 was given to Engine 32 instead.
I don’t know if the city has modified (widened) the Engine 120 house bay doors or not since then. If it was modified then it would probably be possible to get a new engine in there, otherwise they would have to order a new engine that isn’t quite as wide as the ones that we have been getting.
According to my records, Engine 120 had been using a 1998 HME/Luverne that was originally assigned to Engine 1 from 1998 until 2001, when it was reassigned to Engine 120.
Their rig was part of an order of 6 short wheelbase engines that were the very first engines ordered specifically with an EMS cabinet to store and accommodate drugs and related EMS equipment for the new (at the time) ALS engine company program. A year later we received an “add-on” order of 4 nearly identical 1999 models of the same basic style apparatus. The primary identifying feature of the 98 and 99 HMEs are unpainted roll-up side cabinet doors as well as their short wheel base which let them have shorter bodies then the 1997 HMEs.
All of the 1998 and 1999 models were originally assigned to ALS engine companies, however within 4 or 5 years most of them were reassigned to other engine companies (some ALS and some not). The ones that were reassigned were usually assigned to some of your smaller, older stations (such as Engine 120) or to areas with narrow streets where the short wheelbase features could prove to be advantageous.
For example, Engine 95s HME was reassigned to Engine 59 which at the time was located in a long single bay station that they shared with Truck 47. They usually were parked directly behind the truck.
The HMEs are also not very popular amongst the firefighters as their crew cabs are very tight and cramped (which explains why companies that have them are looking to get Spartans even if they are hand me downs).
#24 by Bob C. on March 21, 2011 - 5:18 PM
Correction Dennis,
Truck 61 is not with Engine 74, but Engine 104.
#25 by Dennis McGuire Jr. on March 21, 2011 - 12:05 PM
Also as for the special units, the reserve Snorkel is not the oldest.
1975 Mack assigned to 6-7-1
1975 Chevy Turret assigned to 6-7-6
1981 Chevy Turret assigned to 6-7-3
1982 Seagrave/Pierce assigned to Reserve Snorkel 1
1995 Seagrave/ Fire Dept assigned to 5-2-2
1996 Ford/McCoy-Miller assigned to 5-6-5
1996 Ford/2002 Heil assigned to 6-3-2
After that they are all newer from 1997 to 2008
#26 by Dennis McGuire Jr. on March 21, 2011 - 11:57 AM
Jacob, Bill. Some corrections.
Engines 28, 80, 94, 104, 109, 121 have 1997 HME/Luvernes.
Engines 11, 59, 74, 103, have 1998 HME/Luvernes
Engines 15, 39, 102, 120 have 1999 HME/Luvernes
The oldest frontline engine is 50’s 1995 Spartan/Luverne
Then after the HME/Luvernes is the 2000 Freightliner/American LaFrance/3-D assigned to Engine 92
For the new trucks, 56 and 59 are RUMORED to be getting the new rigs though things can change. They are supposed to be ALS equipped trucks so it could be that 56 and 59 could become ALS along with Truck 62.
Truck 61 is with Engine 74 which is already ALS but that is just my thought, after all, Truck 31 got a new one and they are not ALS but Engine 64 is.
#27 by Bill Post on March 20, 2011 - 11:58 PM
Joe I haven’t personally heard anything about new tower ladders on order. I do know that about a year ago, Chicago did sign a multi-year contract with Spartan/Crimson for up to 30 new “aerial ladders,” however I haven’t heard yet whether there is a stipulation in the contract that says tower ladders can be included amongst the 30 aerial ladders or whether there needs to be a separate bidding process and therefore a separate contract for tower ladders.
As far as Tower Ladder 34 goes, you are correct about them having an old rig. In fact if you don’t include our reserve snorkel and our large Deluge Unit (671), then it is the oldest front line apparatus in service and is nearly 23 years old. Since 2002 it had been a spare rig until over a year ago when it was reassigned to Tower Ladder 34 after their 2002 Pierce tower ladder was damaged in an accident.
Their current 1988 E/One ironically was assigned to Tower Ladder 34 from 1988 till 2002 and was Tower Ladder 34’s first tower ladder.
The last that I had heard was that they were talking about removing the damaged tower ladder from the 2002 Pierce and modifying the body so it could replace Collapse 522 (the lumber truck) that has been using a 1995 Seagrave former aerial ladder truck body and chassis.
Tower Ladders 37, 39, and 21 could all stand to be replaced as their regular rigs are matching 1996 HME/LTI Tower Ladders and have been in service for nearly 15 years. Tower Ladders 21 and 37’s rigs were “hand me downs” that were originally assigned to Tower Ladders 14 and 10.
#28 by Jacob on March 20, 2011 - 10:47 PM
Any chance on E120 getting replaced anytime soon? I think they have a 1996 HME Luverne.
#29 by joe on March 20, 2011 - 3:38 PM
thanks Bill. What about new tower ladders? 34 & 37 are very old.
#30 by Bill Post on March 20, 2011 - 12:55 AM
Joe there is only one new engine that is being built right now and one truck, however there may be one or two more trucks in the works shortly. As far as trucks being replaced, it will probably go to Truck 61 or 62 as the CFD already has the next two trucks numbered and scheduled to go in service at Truck 59 and 56. These should be going into service shortly (unless they’re already in service), which would make Trucks 61 and 62 the last of 1996 Seagraves that would need to be replaced. Trucks 51, 31, and 9 recently got their new rigs put in service which was covered in an earlier posting on this site.
As far as engines go, Engines 92 and 4 are not likely candidates based on the age of their apparatus. There are about 15 frontline engines that are all older then 92’s 2000 Freightliner. These should be scheduled for replacement before Engine 92’s rig and even more so for Engine 4 which has a 2002 Spartan Luverne.
That said, the CFD does sometimes replace (or hand down) newer engines to slower companies if they are assigned to the busier ALS (paramedic) engine companies. Engine 92 is not one of them, but Engine 4 could be a candidate as a hand me down.
The oldest frontline engines in the CFD are a 1995 Spartan Luverne at Engine 50, and six 1997 HME Luverne engines in service at Engines 94, 109, 28, 121, 80 and 104. Based on age they should be the next ones to get replaced (whether by a new engine or a hand me down engine).
#31 by joe on March 19, 2011 - 12:46 PM
WHERE ARE THESE ENGINES GOING TO BE ASSIGNED? ENGINE 4 & E92?