The Arlington Heights Fire Department has received a new Pierce Quantum that will be assigned to Engine 3 (shop #112) and is expected to go into service in early May.
Archive for March, 2012
The magic of Hollywood continues around Chicago as the production company works to create footage for several episodes of the new show called Chicago Fire. Filming has been spotted at Engine 18’s house which provides a view out the rear of the apparatus bays that shows the Chicago skyline. Some information about the cast can be found HERE. A recent article HERE details some of the filing, and last week there was a nighttime fire scene that was created near the corners of Franklin Street and Institute Place.
Today they are reportedly shooting a scene with a large wreck and extrication on Lower Wacker Drive near Columbus Avenue.
Our past reports on the show are HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Here is a list of some of the apparatus being used.
Squad 3 is the old 5-1-1, the 1988 spartan/saulsburyTruck 81 is a 1996 Seagrave 100' RMEngine 51 is a Spartan/LuverneAmb. 61 is a Ford/Medic MasterBattalion 25 is a Ford Expedition
Part 3 in the series covering Ward LaFrance and the Chicago Fire Department:
In 1973, Chicago received an additional five Ward LaFrance P80 Ambassador engines. Four of these had 1,500-GPM pumps and were assigned to Engine 23 (D-389), Engine 29 (D-390), Engine 57 (D-391), and Engine 67 (D-392). The remaining engine had a 1,750-GPM pump and went to Engine 74 (D-393). All had 500-gallon water tanks.
Engine 74 with the 1,750-GPM pump had several differences in trim design which gave it a different look than the other 1973 models. The pump panel was painted red and did not have the polished panel like the other units. In addition, the wide steel band which wrapped the front doors and cab face of the other units was omitted from Engine 74.
Unlike the units which came in 1970, these engines had the large company numbers relegated to the rear compartment and another number was on the cab face. Also, “Chicago Fire Dept.” was now lettered on both sides of the cab under the jump-seat window as well as on the cab roof over the windshield. The handrail at the back of the cab no longer ran the full width as these engines had a multi-versal that was stored on the roof.
Chicago Engine 23 was assigned shop #D-389. Steve Redick photo
This image of Engine 29 shows the officer's side of the 1973 Ward LaFrance Model 80 engines that were built with the Ambassador series cab. Jack Connors photo
Engine 57 had one of four 1973 Ward LaFrance Ambassador engines with a 1,500-GPM pump. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 67 received one of the five units delivered by Ward LaFrance in 1973. Jack Connors photo
Chicago Engine 74 had a 1973 Ward LaFrance engine that varied slightly from the others. It had a 1,750-GPM pump and slightly different body styling. Larry Shapiro photo
Shop #D-393, the one unit with a 1,750-GPM pump that was originally assigned to Engine Company 74, was later reassigned to Engine 104.
From Bill Friedrich:
It was confirmed today that the Addison E-ONE engine we reported on is finally on a boat headed to Argentina.
New buggy in Winnetka
Mar 27
Winnetka Battalion 28 is running in a 2011 Ford Expedition with the new black and gold striping. This replaces a 2001 Chevy van.
The new unit running as Battalion 28 in Winnetka. Larry Shapiro photo
Winnetka replaced this Chevy van with a Ford Expedition. Karl Klotz photo
The frontline apparatus in Winnetka all sports the new graphics and colors. Larry Shapiro photo
All of this apparatus is in a gallery HERE.
Local apparatus photos
Mar 26
Scott Peterson submitted a few images he recently took of Palatine Rural Tender 36 and Rolling Meadows Engine 16.
Palatine Rural Tender 36 was built by US Tank in 1988 on an HME 1871 chassis. It carries 3,200 gallons of water and has a 1,250-GPM pump. Scott Peterson photo
Rolling Meadows Engine 16 is a 2004 American LaFrance Eagle with a 1,500-GPM pump, 750 gallons of water and two 30-gallon foam tanks. Scott Peterson photo
The officer's side of Rolling Meadows Engine 16. Scott Peterson photo
Part 2 in the series on CFD Ward LaFrance apparatus in Chicago discusses the Grove aerials. Bill Friedrich submitted the following information:
There were a total of (5) WLF P80/Grove 100-foot rear-mount aerials ordered. Companies that received these were Truck 12 (E-183), Truck 34 (E-184), Truck 21 (E-185), Truck 18 (E-186), and Truck 7 (E-187). These were delivered with booster reels that were removed from Trucks 12 & 18.
Chicago Truck 18 shown here with their 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' rear mount aerial. Bill Friedrich photo
Truck 12 also had one of the 100-foot Grove aerials with a Ward LaFrance Ambassador cab and chassis. As shown here, the booster reel has been removed. Larry Shapiro photo
Chicago Truck 7 at the fire academy when it was ready to go in service. The booster reel is visible above the ground ladders. Jack Connors photo
Truck 34 during a fire prevention week parade on State Street. Jack Connors photo
Truck 21's apparatus (E-185) was later assigned to Truck 39. Jack Connors photo
Truck 21’s unit was later reassigned to Truck 39, and Truck 7’s unit was reassigned to Truck 61.
Truck Company 61 was assigned the unit that was previously Truck 7. Jack Connors photo
This unit (Shop #E-185) was given to Truck 39 after it saw service as Truck 21. The booster reel as seen in the image of Truck 21 was removed prior to the re-assignment to Truck 39. Jack Connors photo
Bill Friedrich has initiated the first in a series of posts chronicling different types of apparatus that saw service in Chicago. The first post covers the Ward LaFrance engines from 1970.
There were a total of (7) P80’s delivered in 1970, one for each district. Companies that received these were Engine 126 (D-372), Engine 73 (D-373), Engine 8 (D-374), Engine 106 (D-375), Engine 22 (D-376), Engine 113 (D-377) and Engine 49 (D-378). These units had 2,000-GPM pumps.
Chicago Engine 113 was one of 7 units built in 1970 by Ward LaFrance with the Ambassador chassis, a 2,000-GPM pump, and 500 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo
This unit originally assigned to Engine 22 later went to Engine 99 and then to Engine 46 after a complete refurb. The CFD scramble on the door and the red unit number on the front were not part of the original graphics. This unit, damaged by a wall collapse, was rebuilt. Shown here after the rebuild, the cab is lacking the continuous hand rail at the canopy that extended up the sides and across the top. Additionally, the red section above the pump panel is not how this series was delivered to the city. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 73 was assigned shop #D373 that was eventually scrapped. This was the only 1970 Ward LaFrance that was not later rebuilt. Jack Connors photo
Engine 126's rig (shop #D-372), shows the full height polished metal behind the pump panel.. Jack Connors photo
Engine 106 received one of the seven units built in 1970 by Ward LaFrance. The original graphics only included the Chicago Fire Department name above the windshield. Larry Shapiro photo
This photo of Engine 8 in Chinatown shows the unit when it went into service. Jack Connors photo
Engine 49 is seen here on the fireground. Jack Connors photo
In 1990 (6) of the original 1970 P80’s were rebuilt by Able Fire Equipment Co. at their Frankfort, IL facility. The rebuild included a Ranger 4-door cab, a new aluminum Emergency One body, a 140-gallon foam tank, and other components of the original apparatus. The following companies received these vehicles; Engine 122 (x-Engine 126), Engine 69 (x-Engine 8), Engine 113 (x-Engine 106), Engine 46 (x-Engine 22), Engine 14 (x-Engine 113) and Engine 34 (x-Engine 49) All these vehicles were equipped with 5″ hose. One was assigned in each district of the city. Two of these, D-374 and D-375, were used in the movie Backdraft.
Engine 113 with a rebuilt 1970/1990 Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE engine. Bil Friedrich photo
This unit (D-378) for Engine 34 was formerly assigned to Engine 49. Jack Connors photo
Chicago Engine 14 also received one of the rebuilt Ward LaFrance engines in 1990 that had an extended bumper with LDH. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 122 received one of the 1973/1990 Ranger/EONE/Ward LaFrance refurbished engines. Jack Connors photo
Engine 69 received shop #D-374 which was later used in the movie Backdraft. Jack Connors photo
This shot of Engine 46 working at a fire scene provides a look at the officer's side of the rebuilt units. Jack Connors photo
Vintage CFD Fire Photos
Mar 23
A few vintage images of the City Hall fires in Chicago.
Bill Friedich collection
Bill Freidrich collection
from Kevin
From Ryan Wyckoff:
Bellwood recieved a FEMA Grant and will use it for a new truck. They are purchasing a stock 95' E-One Tower Ladder. Expected delivery is May after some very minor compartment and graphics modifications.
Here is a listing of Illinois departments that have received FEMA Grant Awards for apparatus.
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) - Award Year 2011
