Chicago Fire Department
FOR FRIDAY MARCH 4 2pm
CFD takes delivery of three new tower ladders as part of a regular upgrade and replacement plan for CFD apparatus.
CFD has ten tower ladders citywide. They are considered one of most versatile units a fire department can have. A tower ladder has the ability to not only provide elevated master streams like a Snorkel, but has the added benefit of a stable rescue platform that greatly enhances the ability to bring injured or trapped persons to the ground safely.
The City will be replacinh three of the ten units now in service and all three new units will be on display at the Quinn Academy Drill Yard located at Taylor and Jefferson. Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago will speak on the placement and benefits of these units which will go in service.
#1 by Bill Post on March 6, 2016 - 12:23 PM
Yes Brian the tower ladder that was assigned to Tower Ladder 62 initially went in service as Tower Ladder 27. They were in service from March 17th to November 15th 1986, then as Tower Ladder 62 from November 16, 1986 until December 31st 1992, and was reassigned as Tower Ladder 37 on March 17th 1993. I have no idea if it was used as a company from January until March 1993. They are they only tower that has changed identities. Every other tower ladder company has remained one. There was a gap in tower ladder coverage in the Hyde Park/Washington Park area and that was a busy district so they relocated Tower 62’s rig further north. Now there is a large gap in coverage on the far south side so Truck 62 or Truck 40 are potential candidates or even perhaps Truck 61, however they are a little too far east. I think that Truck 40 would probably be the best location for one.
The Chicago Fire Department did an in-house study of company coverage around 1986. The study found that there were some gaps in coverage on the far south side, specifically south of 95th street. That study which was done by the research and planning department recommended that several new stations be built on the far south side and that some engines and trucks be relocated or created. The locations of the new stations were recommended to be at 13000 south and 3100 east for Engine 97 and a new truck company, 13000 south and 200 east for Engine 75 and a new truck company, 11500 south and 732 west for an engine company that was to be relocated from deeper in the city such as Engine 103, and to relocate Truck 24 there as well. Finally another new station was recommended at 103rd and State Street for Engine 93 with a new truck company. The study had also recommended that Truck 16 be relocated to Engine 81’s house, and that Engine 63 be changed over to one of the proposed new truck companies. At the time of the study, Engine 63 and Truck 16 were located in their old station at 1405 E 62nd Place. Instead, Engine 63 and Truck 16 were relocated to their current station at 1440 E 67th Street, and Engine 100, located just about two blocks south of Engine 63’s current station, (at 6843 south Harper) was taken out of service instead of Engine 63.
In my opinion, had those four new stations been built as recommended, the ideal place for a far south side tower ladder would have been at 103rd and State Street at the new house proposed for Engine 93.
As that study was authored the by the CFD’s own research and planning department, I don’t understand why they didn’t act on most of those recommendations. One recommendation that was accepted relocated an engine to Truck 61’s current quarters. In 1986 Engine 104 was doubled up at Engine 1’s house after Engine 104’s old house was closed Feb 1st 1985. They were relocated to their current quarters on November 1st 1986 after being quartered with Engine 1 for over a year and a half.
The 1986 study recommended that Engine 103’s current quarters be closed and to move them into Truck 61’s quarters plus relocating Engine 104 to the proposed new house at 732 W 115th Street with Truck 24. It was an interesting study.
#2 by Mike L on March 6, 2016 - 11:59 AM
The original towers were 10, 14, 21, 23, 39 and 27 (E62). TL 27 was switched out with Truck 62 (E80) relatively quickly. In 1988 Trucks 5, 34 and 63 were converted to towers. In the mid 90’s, Truck 54 was converted to the 10th tower ladder and Tower 62 was turned back into a conventional truck and the tower was sent to Truck 37. So, yes, at one point Engine 80 had Tower 62 with it.
#3 by Brian on March 6, 2016 - 10:55 AM
Didnt E80 have a tower with them at one point?
#4 by Bill Post on March 5, 2016 - 11:49 PM
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to add an 11th active tower to the fleet for the far south side such as at Truck 40 which now is in a large new station that should have enough door clearance to be able to fit one inside the station.
#5 by Jason on March 5, 2016 - 10:51 AM
Is Tower 10 still an active unit?
#6 by CFD227 on March 5, 2016 - 2:04 PM
Yes
Towers 5 10 14 21 23 34 37 39 and 54 city side and Tower 63 at O’Hare ate the active towers
#7 by Jason on March 5, 2016 - 8:25 PM
Okay. Thanks!
#8 by Rich S. on March 4, 2016 - 4:39 PM
Yeah good for the CFD replacing Tower Ladders that are from 1985 and 1993. Our fleet is in very poor shape we needed these badly. And need new trucks, Towers, Squads and Snorkels and soon Engines….
#9 by Wally T on March 4, 2016 - 2:37 PM
Good for CFD.