This week’s posting of the Division 10 apparatus showing departments that once had a unique colored rig or that have changed to red was flawed. The Clarendon Hills Fire Department should not have been featured since their current color is not red, but with that in mind, Bill Friedrich has submitted an image from a day when Clarendon Hills did have red trucks.
Bill tells us that:
Clarendon Hills started of with a black over red fleet. Besides this one, they had a really neat FWD engine and a Ford C squad truck. They also had a white tandem axle Ford F ambulance.
In 1963, Clarendon Hills ran with this 1963 IHC R-190/Darley unit that was black over red. It had a 750-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water with an overhead ladder rack. Bill Friedrich photo
Bill also tells us about the Hinsdale Fire Department:
Hinsdale had an all red fleet as well prior to the black and yellow rigs. Besides this ladder they had a Pirsch and FWD engine.
Hinsdale used to have red trucks like this 1952 American LaFrance 700 Series mid-mounted 75′ ladder truck. It ran as Truck442 with a 1000-GPM pump and 150 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo
#1 by Dave Bloom on November 15, 2012 - 8:52 PM
I got confirmation from an old Gardner member. They did have a tandem axle ambulance. Unfortunately, no pictures exist.
#2 by Dave Bloom on November 14, 2012 - 8:32 PM
I think Gardner in the 80’s had a tandem axle ambulance. It was some off-brand manufacturer.
#3 by Daniel S on November 14, 2012 - 7:46 PM
Great to see the 1963 IH from Clarendon Hills, in 1985 that truck was purchased by the Farmington KY VFD. It was our primary pumper for many years we took the overhead ladder off and expanded the tank to 1000 gal. It was a great pumping truck and easy to drive as long as you didnt have to stop real quick.
#4 by chris r on June 25, 2012 - 10:00 PM
I was wrong, it was hills and then went to kankakee township in kankakee county. It was strange looking with those tandem wheels, i wonder if anybody has a pic of it they could post to website. I wonder if any other ambulance had tandem wheels, it was one of a kind.
#5 by FFPM571 on June 25, 2012 - 7:09 PM
Clarendon HEIGHTS was taken over by Tri-state in the early 90s. Clarendon Hills has always been Hills and they had the tandem axle.
#6 by Marco on June 25, 2012 - 6:59 PM
They’re one in the same…the name was changed from Heights to Hills quite a while ago.
#7 by chris r on June 25, 2012 - 6:31 PM
I thought it was CLARENDON HGTS that had the tandem wheels ambulance, not CLARENDON HILLS .