As seen around … Chicago « chicagoareafire.com

As seen around … Chicago

Chicago FD Engine 73 from Dennis McGuire, Jr.

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Tags: Chicago FD Engine 73, Chicago Fire Department, Dennis McGuire Jr., E-ONE Cyclone II fire engine

This entry was posted on July 27, 2017, 7:00 AM and is filed under Fire Truck photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

13 Comments

#1 by Marty Coyne on July 29, 2017 - 9:34 PM

Bill living in that area I can only tell you that your times are very optimistic. 71 takes you to 5-6 to reach the northwest parts of it’s response areas. Rigs (ambo and fire) from either 102, 89 or 70’s house take 10 min or more to arrive on scene. The drive from 102’s house to California and Touhy or a Howard is considerably more than 4 min.
#2 by Bill Post on July 28, 2017 - 8:20 PM

You make a pretty good point about the 130,000 miles on Engine 71’s old Spartan Marty however I was curious about the areas in 71’s district that are 10 minutes away from the next company? Let’s start with California and Peterson which is only 2 and half blocks south of Engine 71’s quarters. Engine 71 can arrive in less than a minute but Engines 110, 89, 70, and 59 are all not more then 1.5 miles from that intersection and about a 3 minute drive assuming there are no traffic jams. Both Engine 89’s and 70’s rigs just get onto Peterson Avenue which is a pretty straight shot, plus Peterson is actually four lanes with two in each direction so the traffic generally moves pretty smoothly. Engine 110 takes a short cut and uses Lincoln Avenue to get to much of Engine 71’s district. Engine 110 can usually beat Engine 89 and 70 to California and Peterson using Lincoln Avenue.
Devon Avenue can be more of a problem because of congestion but once again Devon and Western are only about a 3 to 4 minute drive for Engine 110 coming up Western Avenue and Engine 70 can use Clark, Ridge, Granville, Peterson, or Devon to go west.
Now let’s take a look at the north end of Engine 71’s district. Touhy and California is in the heart of it. Touhy does have more congestion these days between California and Kedzie due to four shopping malls and stores which are all west of there at Mc Cormick, not to mention a new Walmart and a Lowes further west. Getting back to the intersection at Touhy and California, Engine 71 is only a two and half minute drive up California which is basically a residential street with a few stores north of Arthur Avenue (6500 north). Engine 102 and Truck 25 are only a 3 to 4 minute drive up Touhy from Clark and Engine 102’s usually Rogers Avenue to Touhy and Ridge as a short cut. Truck 25 and Engine 102 always arrive at Touhy and Calfornia a minute after Engine 71. There are three nursing homes on Touhy from Rockwell to Western. The two that are east of Rockwell are in Engine 102’s still district the obe west of Rockwell is Engine 71’s. Engine 102 often beats Engine 71 to the numerous box alarms that sometime occur at 2625 W Touhy.
The one part of Engine 71’s district that can be a problem are the side streets between Touhy and Howard, just east of Kedzie. This is the northwest end of the district and streets such as Jarlath, Chase, and Sherwin are dead ends which have to be accessed from the east.
Excuse me for the detailed description of Engine 71’s area but most of the surrounding companies have pretty good access.
#3 by Marty Coyne on July 28, 2017 - 12:19 PM

Bill politics plays a big role in who gets a new rig. That said, 71 had over 130,000 miles on the old rig. It’s got a fairly large response area and it’s the only game in the area. Single engine house with next nearest apparatus 10 min or more away from many of its response areas. Makes some sense to give them a reliable rig.
#4 by Bill Post on July 28, 2017 - 2:08 AM

I have seen Engine 71 from about a block away or less a couple of times and the blue light really does show up pretty well at night. I guess blue is the new green for the Chicago Fire Department.
I really don’t know what Engine 71 is doing with a new engine as there are still engines in the field that were built in the 90’s and are older and more worn than Engine 71 whose Spartan/Luverne went in service in January 2002. Engine 59 which is still using a short wheelbase 1998 HME/Luverne could have used the new rig more than Engine 71. Even Engine 11, 94, 103, or Engine 39 could have used the new rig as they were all built in the 1990’s. Engine 74, 104, and 80 also should be up for replacement.
Perhaps after Engine 71 is finished breaking in the new rig the CFD can give it to Engine 59 who can make better use of it. After all Engine 59 is less then 2 miles east of Engine 71. At least give the new rig to a company that makes more use of the pump. It’s only wishful thinking however.
#5 by harry on July 27, 2017 - 11:05 PM

as for the last eone towers except these new ones were at least 1 1988 it ran as tower 34 after they wrecked their pierce but once the new eones showed up they got I believe twr 14 old pierce for tower 34
#6 by Marty Coyne on July 27, 2017 - 9:57 PM

The last E-One’s prior to airport engines were the 2000 straight stick Trucks.
#7 by Marty Coyne on July 27, 2017 - 9:55 PM

Michael M yes. The 2016 went to 73, 121 and 125. The 2017 went to 28,
50 (back at FSI) and 71.
#8 by Michael M on July 27, 2017 - 8:29 PM

Is this one of the 2016 E-One Engines?
#9 by Michael M on July 27, 2017 - 8:26 PM

How long has it been since there was a new E-One in the city? Has it been more than 30 years since the last new E-One engines were delivered. I know it was at least 30 years for the E-One tower ladders the last was in 1985 until the three were delivered last year.
#10 by Michael M on July 27, 2017 - 8:24 PM

Handsome looking rig! Love the fact it is posed in front of it’s quarters!
#11 by Marty Coyne on July 27, 2017 - 5:05 PM

It has striping on the back and reflective on the bumper. The three new ones just arrived have striping on the bumper too.
#12 by harry on July 27, 2017 - 2:48 PM

it is nice but it should have the safety spriping on bumper and back
#13 by CrabbyMilton on July 27, 2017 - 12:40 PM

Another handsome E-ONE posed very nicely in front of quarters.