This from Eric Haak:
The Robbins Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a structure fire at 3702 W. 139th Street Sunday afternoon. Robbins units arrived on scene at 1308hrs and confirmed a working fire in an old 2-story frame at the back of a bar’s property. Command requested a MABAS 22 Full Still on Box #2909. Companies went defensive from the start due to the dilapidated condition of the building and a special call was put in for Crestwood’s Truck and a MABAS Canteen. At approximately 1700hrs, companies were called back for a rekindle. Units on scene were Robbins Tower Ladder 4, Robbins Engines 2913 and 2943 and Garden Homes Engine 2543. Midlothian Engine 2723 was brought in to help clean up hot spots from the opposite side of Robbins’ Tower Ladder.
#1 by Dave Bloom on June 29, 2013 - 10:12 PM
You’re right, Brian. I got the numbers mixed. There are also a number of Indiana departments that run Telesqurts. Even saw an articulating Squrt without a pump. Try indianafiretrucks.com.
#2 by Brian on June 28, 2013 - 11:37 PM
Dolton’s ’75 squirt was 1442. 1443 was a 100 ft pirsch and now 1443 is a mid mount tower
#3 by Dave Bloom on June 28, 2013 - 7:54 AM
Matt, I think you and I covered most of the Squrts and Tele-Squrts in the viewing area. Forgot Dolton 1443 and Alsip (think 2043 was the number). Really have to kick myself for forgetting East Joliet 529, it was in station #2 when I worked at Kurtz and would be in that station.
#4 by Matt on June 28, 2013 - 5:31 AM
While tele-squrts were definitely more popular than squrts, a number of departments in the Chicago area ran units with tele-squrts, squrts, telebooms, firesticks, skybooms or Reading booms depending on the manufacturer. Many are now sold or OOS but some still exist out there. They do provide a complimentary way of getting an elevated master stream when needed.
Kankakee
Dolton
Hazel Crest
Michigan City
LaPorte
Midlothian
Highland, IN
North Palos
Lake Bluff / Lake Forest (jointly owned)
Schererville IN (Classic ALF Pioneer)
Alsip
Ross Twp. (Merrillville IN)
Oak Brook Twp.
Elk Grove Twp.
East Joliet FPD
Chicago @ O’Hare Field
#5 by Mike Mc on June 26, 2013 - 11:28 PM
FDNY squrts! On an engine and not a satellite/hose wagon no less. You sure had me fooled gentlemen. I stand corrected. I thought I new something about FDNY history, but I have been humbled. This is even rarer than the two or three rear mounted tower ladders FDNY used to have.
Former Fire Commissioner O’Hagen must have truly been a progressive to have tried them … but at least he held the line on no snorkels. If I had to guess, the squrts were probably as popular as the lime green paint scheme that came a few years later.
#6 by Joe on June 26, 2013 - 10:36 PM
Tri-State Engine 521 is a Pierce 61′ Sky Boom. A picture of it can be viewed here: http://chicagoareafire.com/Div_10_TRIS_Sta2.html
It’s definitely not something you see every day.
#7 by nate on June 26, 2013 - 6:59 PM
Evanston, lake bluff have telesqurts by pierce
#8 by DH on June 26, 2013 - 6:42 PM
Hazel Crest has the Pierce variant of the Tele-Squrt, the Sky-Boom.
#9 by chris on June 26, 2013 - 4:33 PM
fdny eng 71,310 had squrts eng 70 had a telesqurt you can google fdny squrts and find photos
#10 by Brian on June 26, 2013 - 2:41 PM
Hazel Crest E1228 was a tele-squrt like Harvey E1 and 9. I believe Hazel Crest may have had two running at one point
#11 by DMc77 on June 26, 2013 - 1:26 PM
Mike- yes I am fairly certain FDNY had two if not three Squrts mounted on Mack CF engine bodies as an experiment in the 70’s. They weren’t around very long. I will try to find a picture on the interwebs somewhere and add it here. I believe Boston’s were Squrts mounted on a body and used as a special piece whereas the FDNY units were frontline companies
#12 by Dave Bloom on June 25, 2013 - 10:05 PM
Harvey used to have 2 Tele-Squrts, Engines 1 and 9. Lansing Engine 102 is a Reading Mini-Tower. Harvey Engine 6 was an articulating Squrt. It went to Ford Heights, don’t know if it’s still there. Hazel Crest might have had a Tele-Squrt, or it is another make. North Palos used to run a 75′ Tele-Squrt as a truck company. Thornton had a 50′ Tele-Squrt on a 1972 Ford,gas, stick, Pierce body, 1000/500. Thornton now runs a 50′ on a 1996 HME, diesel, auto, 1500/500. While they have called both rigs “Truck” 74/747, ( don’t ask ) they are an Engine.
#13 by Mike Mc on June 25, 2013 - 9:06 PM
DMc 77: Are you sure about the FDNY having squrts in the 1970’s? You may be thinking of Boston.
#14 by DH on June 24, 2013 - 11:21 AM
Behind the mic, Harvey and Lansing have Tele-Squrts, which is a telescoping waterway with a ladder on top, also fairly rare around here. But a Squrt has the elbow, much like a snorkel.
#15 by Behind the mic on June 24, 2013 - 10:09 AM
Harvey Engine 1 and Lansing Engine 102 are Squrts too. That’s about it for the Southside.
#16 by Turk_WLF on June 24, 2013 - 9:40 AM
It’s good to see a Squrt in action and a vey rare sight indeed, even out here in Kansas.
#17 by DMc77 on June 24, 2013 - 9:22 AM
Here’s something you don’t see everyday in the Chicago metro area- a Squrt deployed and operating. While popular in other areas – New Orleans, Louisville metro area and FD’s in Pennslyvania (Philly) and New Jersey, the Squrt never caught on around here. FDNY ran a handful of them in the 70’s, but the concept didn’t catch on there either.
Besides Midlo, I can’t think of another Chicago metro dept. running a Squrt, at least not currently. I’m sure the Admin has a few photos from over the years to share with us…..
#18 by Kyle on June 24, 2013 - 12:12 AM
Robbins Tower Ladder is number 2914 not Tower Ladder 4.