Archive for April 16th, 2012

Chicago FD begins transition to digital radios

An article on the CBS Chicago website mentions the CFD has begun the transition to digital radios, beginning with EMS.

After six years of testing – and spending more than $20 million – the Chicago Fire Department has finally started to go digital.

The switchover from analog to digital radios began Sunday at 8 a.m., with EMS paramedics getting the new radios.

“The fire department has been testing the system, along with OEMC (the Office of Emergency Management and Communications), and the Fire Department at this time is satisfied with the performance of the system, and we are ready to go live,” Langford said.

Langford says firefighters will start training with the digital radios in June and will switch to digital before the end of the year.

“Every person on the rig will have a radio,” Langford says. That will be a first for the Fire Department – where everyone has a radio.

Langford says the department will keep the option to switch back to analog, if necessary.

The article can be found HERE.

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Vintage CFD Fire Photos

Another installment of vintage photos from the collection of Bill Friedrich

Chicago fire photo from 1958 Swift Processing Plant Fire

Chicago Fire Department elevated train derailment 1959

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