More on the history of turret wagons in the Chicago Fire Department.
This from Steve Redick
I was surfing through my collection..kinda bored cause I haven’t shot any fire photos in a while. I found this shot and thought I would share it because it’s relevant to our recent turret wagon photos. I am not sure of the source of this photo..might be a CFD negative..I do know it is not one I took. A few interesting things to see…truck 2 is using an old Mack magirus and you can see how they had to use a ground ladder to ascend to the main ladder…really gotta wonder what the designers were thinking there…and ya gotta wonder even more why the heck did CFD buy these??!!!!??? Prominently in the photo is the original “Big Mo”..turret wagon with lots of lines hooked up and sporting the CD paint job of white over blue. This thing changed paint schemes like a chameleon changes colors.The other detail I could pick out was what I remember as snorkel 4…it had a stripping ladder mounted on the boom, easily accessible from the basket. Snorkels weren’t just elevated master streams..before tower ladders they did lots of regular truck work too. The fire is downtown somewhere and I estimate the time frame as the mid 70s..anyone recognize this location??
This stuff is way cool…any comments will be shared!!
Steve
Turret Wagon Big Mo at work at a large fire in Chicago. Photographer unknown.
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#1 by Eric Haak on February 24, 2013 - 12:54 PM
You can access the February 6th, 1971 Chicago Tribune for a few more photos including one of the ruins sporting the ice that Matt talked about. Fire was on a Friday morning.
#2 by Eric Haak on February 24, 2013 - 12:50 PM
Dan beat me to it. Building was built in 1925 and housed the Martha Weathered upscale clothier on the first floor. 2 firefighters were hospitalized, one for smoke inhalation and one for a cut to his face. The building was torn down later that year in May.
#3 by Dan McInerney on February 24, 2013 - 12:16 PM
Records indicate there was a 5-11 and 1 special from box 21251 for a fire in a 3 story, 100×150 at 952 N. Michigan at 0853hrs on February 5, 1971
#4 by David on February 24, 2013 - 11:33 AM
Two things – what rig was snkl 4 using back then, was it the 1966 International with the canopy cab? (I think the IHC was the 1st CFD snorkel to use this style cab). Another thing I noted -it looks like the guy in the very center of the photo is wearing a high-eagle Cairns, was that common even in the 70s?! I know FDNY abandoned them in the 30s but from what I’ve seen it looks like quite a few CFD members wore high-eagles well into the 60s and 70s.
#5 by Matt Collins on February 24, 2013 - 10:15 AM
I would add, that over the years, I’ve looked for info on this fire, but have found nothing. Usually if they go that big, there’s a word or two somewhere.
#6 by Matt Collins on February 24, 2013 - 10:14 AM
I believe that was Martha Weathered at the corner of Michigan and Walton in March or April of 71. I was a senior at Quigley North. As my bus was pulling up to drop us off, the first in engine (I’m assuming 98) was pulling up, about 845 and you could see a slight haze inside the building. One of the priests came in to our 2nd period class and said he’d been out watching the fire. We all said what fire and he took us out to show us. My understanding at the time is it went to a 5-11 and a couple of specials. Pretty cool seeing engines lined up 3 abreast down Michigan in front of the Hancock Center. Had a few b&w pictures a few days later of the “roonz” with some ice on them, but no where near as much as a couple weeks ago. Do remember Big Mo that day.