This from Josh Boyajian:
Engine 96 had a fire last night (3/7/17) @ 5858 w Augusta. They dropped 2 lines and Truck 29 had their main to the roof. Looked to be in an occupied and very heavily secured Corner Store.
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
Josh Boyajian photo
#1 by David on March 11, 2017 - 6:57 AM
Mike Mc great idea with the footballs on the snorkel rig, I love the vintage stuff like the oldschool fronts some of the guys put on the helmets but this would be super cool, great tribute to the original Snorkel Squads, shame it probably ain’t gonna happen.
#2 by Michael M on March 10, 2017 - 2:21 PM
Nice photos of the new Squad. Does anyone know what equipment is carried on the snorkel?
#3 by Bill Post on March 10, 2017 - 12:36 PM
Mike Mc, yes I do remember that SS 1 was the only rig in the city that was equipped with the Hurst tool most of the extrication gear from the time that Rescues 2 and 3 were taken out of service.I believe that the Hurst tool wasn’t put onto SS 1 until around 1970/71 but the new Flying Squad rigs weren’t put in service until during 1973. I remember the Illinois Central Commuter Train Crash on October 30th 1972 when an old single level Illinois Central Commuter train crashed into the rear of a new bilevel train and 45 people were killed with over 300 people injured. At the time of that crash which was at 27th street just west of Lake Shore drive, only Snorkel Squad 1 had a Hurst tool and while they had special called the Flying Manpower Squads they didn’t have Hurst tools on their rigs.
If you recall the Salvage Squads (which were the remnants of the Old Squad companies) did have some of the Old Squad company equipment on them such as the Acetylene cutting torches and the Porto Power Jacks however they were no comparison the what was carried on the Snorkel Squads and the last 2 of the Salvage Squads were taken out of service in late 1972.
Mike you are also totally correct that the 1968 Maatman report had recommended that all 3 Snorkel Squads be taken out of service and that the 6
proposed new Flying Manpower Squads take over the “Heavy Rescue” Duty that had been the function of the Snorkel Squads. The 1968 Maatman report did recommend keeping Salvage Squad 1 in service in the Loop and they were in effect supposed to be the “Central City” Rescue Squad which would have taken over for Snorkel Squad 1.
Snorkel Squad 1’s 50 foot Mack Snorkel had been recommended to be put in service at Engine 28’s house which would have replaced Snorkel 2’s Ford/High Ranger 75 foot Snorkel.
While I understand why Commissioner Quinn kept Snorkel Squad 1 in service I really don’t understand why he took Salvage Squad 1 out of service and the manpower and equipment was used to create Flying Squad 4. Salvage Squads 6 and 7 were taken out of service on November 16 1971 which was the same day that Trucks 43 and 46 were taken out of service and is the same day that Flying Squad 7 was put in service. The 4 remaining Salvage Squads were taken out of service during 1972 and that was still about a year before the new Flying Squad rigs were put in service.
Salvage Squad 1 had been the very first Salvage Squad to be put in service along with Salvage Squad 2 so that they could the Loop covered and from 1967 through October 1st 1968 both Salvage Squads 1 and 2 had responded city wide on the same 2-11 alarms. On October 1st 1968 Salvage Squads 3 through 7 were created so that there could be a Salvage Squad assigned to each of the 7 Fire Fighting divisions and on the same day Salvage Squad 2 was relocated to the 2nd Division from Engine 5 to Engine 24’s house and Salvage Squad 1 which had been at Engine 42’s old house was relocated to Engine 5’s house replacing Salvage Squad 2. Only 7 months later Salvage Squad 1 was taken out of service on May 1st 1969 which was the same day that Rescue 3 was taken out of service and Flying Manpower Squad 4 was put in service.
#4 by mike mc on March 10, 2017 - 8:43 AM
Bill Post: From what I have been told, SS-1’s snorkel did go to SS-3 but SS-2’s snorkel broke down shortly afterward and the snorkel was then given to SS-2. In the recently posted late 1960’s documentary “Noble … something or other” narrated by Rod Serling, that was SS-1’s old rig and SS-2’s future rig that is shown.
The snorkel must have been at SS-3 for a very brief period because even Warren Reddick himself told me that SS-3 never had another snorkel after the original GMC Snorkel 1 broke down. Former deputy commissioner Pat Kehoe, a lieutenant on SS-2 in the late 1960’s once told me that SS-2 was given SS-1’s old snorkel so there is some confirmation to the story. I believe the snorkel was at SS-3 for only a few weeks, if that. Another possibility, and this would be entirely consistent with Commissioner Quinn’s method of operation, is that he knew the documentary was going to be made and he let SS-3 have the snorkel only until filming was completed.
It’s also the shape and location of the wheel well as well as the lack of a crew cab that gives the resemblance to the International-Harvester snorkels (converted high pressure wagons). Snorkel Squad 2 was also designated a rescue company before they went out of service. As you know, SS-1 was kept in service despite the Maatmaan report recommendations at the insistence of Commissioner Quinn. Until the flying squads received there Mack squad trucks (many of which were converted tiller cabs – history repeating itself with converted old rigs) SS-1 was the only company in the city with any rescue/extrication capability.
#5 by Bill Post on March 9, 2017 - 7:48 PM
Mike Mc I can see somewhat of a similarity to the front of the International Harvester cabs. Keep in mind it is only a similarity but is has to do with the shape and the width of he front of the cab. It may also have to do with the dimensions of the front of the cab.
Speaking of the Original International Harvester rigs assigned Snorkel Squads 1 and 2, I wonder why that when Snorkel Squad 1 received the Mack M/B Pierce Snorkel (with the crew cab) in early 1968,that their International /Snorkel wasn’t given to Snorkel Squad 3 so that SS3 could have run with a Snorkel once again.
It is also ironic that Snorkel Squad 3 ran for over 2 years without a Snorkel and only the last 5 months before that had taken it out of service did they officially re designate it as Rescue 3.They actually ran with their Snorkel for less time then they ran without a Snorkel because the were only assigned their Snorkel (the Original GMC/Pittman) for less then 2 years before it was grounded in the Big Snowstorm of 1967.
#6 by mike mc on March 9, 2017 - 1:39 PM
Bill Post: From that camera angle, Squad 2A sure looks like one or the original International Harvester snorkel squads to me. What do you think?
Needs a couple Mars 888s and a Mars DX-40 light.
#7 by Bill Post on March 9, 2017 - 9:48 AM
That’s the first “on the scene” photo that I have seen of the new Squad 2 since they were put in service.
#8 by 9 man squad on March 8, 2017 - 7:28 PM
Nice squad 2 photo