More on the non-red fire apparatus that served in MABAS Division 11.
Cicero Haz Mat 1 in 1976 was this lime green unit built by Koeing on a Ford F-600 chassis. Bill Friedrich photo
Haz Mat 1 was kept at Sta.2
Cicero Squad F-11 was this white truck built by Wolverine on a Ford F-600 chassis in 1976. It had a 25′ elevating ladder which was more commonly used by outdoor sign companies. Bill Friedrich photo
Here is a shot shortly after the Western Electric plant in Cicero closed down. This was Engine 6 on the radio.
Cicero acquired this 1978 Ford F-700/Howe commercial engine from the Western Electric Plant Brigade when it closed. This had a 750-GPM pump with 600 gallons of water. Bill Friedrich photo
The engine was sold to a department in Alabama. It was at Cicero for about 1-2 years. They did not care for the lime green color. Western Electric employed around 20,000 people and was located near 22nd & Cicero. They did have a full time department.
Cicero Engine 3 was delivered by W.S. Darley in 1981 on a Ford C-8000 chassis with a custom canopy configuration. Originally it was all white but was later repainted to match the new color scheme. Bill Friedrich photo
#1 by thefiremang on September 28, 2012 - 8:58 AM
Mike Cicero used to run with 5 engines, the fifth engine ran out of headquarters and was used only as a target hazard pumper due to the heavy industry in town but that was up until the mid to late 70s. Cicero ran 4 engines with 4 men, Truck 2 tiller used to run with up to 8-10 men, inhalator with 2 men, and the squad with 1 man or even the old pie wagon may had been used. Truck 1 ran with up to 2 men. Second amb with 2 men. Cicero at one time had 100 plus men on job, now as shrunk down to 71 including chiefs. Western Electric employed 35,000 workers and the plant had its own full time FD and Police Dept and also had its own hospital on the premises. Cicero still is one of the most fire active suburban depts in Illinois, lasty year stat is 325 working fires. Doing more with less, but still getting the job done.
#2 by thefiremang on September 27, 2012 - 5:35 PM
Jeff don’t forget FPB ran with a Cushman 3-wheel meter maid vehicle, and also an aluminum boat that was marked Cicero Fire Dept boat 1 for the canal. Also FPB had Engine 1/2 what a nut house that was
#3 by Jeff on September 27, 2012 - 4:46 PM
Hello Everyone , Im a retired firefighter (worked 20 years) at Cicero. I had seen alot of crazy things in the 80’s. 1) 1 firefighter was staffing both Squad 11 (which went to all car accidents and any other rescues) and Truck 1 (which went to all fires). 2) Squad 11 became Haz-Mat 1 back in the late 80’s, they painted it green and put a box on it (as shown in the picture above), Once the Squad was repainted at the time, there were Battalions instead of Divisions, so instead of Division 11 it was Battalion 11. Later on, that vehicle was given to public works. 3)Then we acquired a Chevy Stepvan (X-Snap On tool truck) air conditioned and heated, weather station, fax machine, and many radios. 4) The first Squad 11 that was purchased was wrecked in an accident, with a Cicero Police car, and one firefighter was injured (which was back in the 70’s). And now, Cicero is running three engines (North, South, and Middle of Town), 1 Hook and Ladder, and 1 Tower Ladder, Four Ambulances, one Shift Chief Car, and multiple other vehicles such as Training, Fire Prevention, Fire Marshall, etc, etc. So, there ya have the rundown of the Cicero FD folks, enjoy it!
#4 by Mike McAuliffe on September 27, 2012 - 3:47 PM
Truck 1 ran with only one firefighter? I always thought the Cicero FD shrank in size from the 5 engines and 2 trucks days. Sounds like it might have remained the same size or is perhaps even bigger. Any Cicero experts out there that could provide a brief history of the department? Curious to know. Thank you in advance for any replies.
#5 by John tobin on September 27, 2012 - 2:24 PM
OMG I hooked the yellow Ford up with my buddy from Alabama! Long time ago already…..my Uncle worked at Western Electric….sad to see what has become of smoke stack America!
#6 by thefiremang on September 27, 2012 - 9:58 AM
Haz Mat 1 was actually shared by Division 11 as the Haz Mat truck, the truck was converted from Squad F-11 the white rescue squad. The squad originally ran as a second piece with Trk 2 the American LaFrance tiller out of headquaters and was only used as a spare when T-2 was oos for repairs. Truck 1 the white Ford Grove aerial ran with only 1 man on all structure fires and alarms. All pin ins Trk-2 and Squad 11 handled. Also some ambulances were white and lime green and gold and tan.
#7 by Mike McAuliffe on September 27, 2012 - 9:20 AM
Are the hazmat unit and the rescue squad the same original truck? They sure look the same and the emergency lights – Mars Skybol light bar, front mounted 888, etc. are identical. I don’t believe anyone had a hazmat unit in 1976.