Vintage radio traffic from Morton Grove, 1-25-89

This from Steve Redick:

Here is a radio traffic recording I made of a 2nd alarm fire at 5945 Dempster in Morton Grove. I believe this was on January 25, 1989. The battalion chief who had the fire was Norman Ruth. This was a real dandy and I was there just after the initial attack lines were laid. If you listen closely you can here all kinds of classic dispatching and RED Center radio traffic from the good old days. The fireground traffic is very telling if you listen closely as well. Old suburban traffic is hard to come by and is a very minute portion of my archive but this is a real classic.

The images can be seen here:

Steve

vintage Pierce fire trucks at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Niles FD Truck 2 Pirsch tractor-drawn aerial

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Tags: classic 2-alarm fire in Morton Grove, classic Pirsch tractor-drawn aerial, fireground radio traffic, Furniture Factory fire in Morton Grove, Glenview FD Truck 6, Morton Grove FD Squad 1, Morton Grove Fire Department, Niles FD Pirsch tiller, Niles FD Truck 2, Park Ridge FD Truck 45, Steve Redick, vintage recording of fire scene audio

This entry was posted on September 8, 2017, 12:00 PM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic FD radio trafic, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Comments

#1 by Matt on September 13, 2017 - 5:04 PM

Good old Stormin’ Norman. I think the dispatcher is Debbie K. Was told by Niles guys, a long time ago, they went with the tiller because it guaranteed them a 3 man truck.
#2 by Drew Smith on September 9, 2017 - 1:02 PM

Thanks for sharing Steve. That’s great old stuff to hear. RED Center had not moved from the basement of Glenview’s former Station 6. You can hear the voices of many retirees including Niles DC Wally Blaze and others. I am wondering if the female RED Center dispatcher’s voice is Jan Bobula or maybe Barb Durmett? It’s also interesting the hear the former Glenbrook and Skokie ESDA rigs. Regarding the question of whay year was the Pirsch tiller built, Bill Friedrich’s site lists the tiler as a 1970. http://www.illinoisfiretrucks.com/CHICAGO-METROPOLITAN-AREA-FDs/COOK-COUNTY-NORTH/NILES-FIRE-DEPARTMENT/i-NKS2ZRR/A

Both Niles’ tiller and the MG Squad 4 shown in these photos were replace together in 1993. MG still runs the 1993 Pierce squad. Niles replaced the Pierce tiller several years ago.

While not at this fire, you can hear MG Truck 4 staffed by callback members taking in other alarms. That truck still sits in Alexis Fire Equipment’s bone yard.
#3 by michael m on September 8, 2017 - 6:46 PM

What year is the Niles Pirsch Tiller? What year is the Evanston truck? Anyone Know, just curious. Excellent pictures!
#4 by Mike L on September 8, 2017 - 3:24 PM

Two Pirsch tillers at that fire between Niles Trk 2 and Evanston Trk 22. Div 3 has always been truck heavy on their cards. This 2-11 got at least 6 trucks (Niles Trk 2, Skokie Trk 3 (18), Glenview Trk 6, Evanston Trk 22, Park Ridge Trk 45 and Des Plaines TL 81) which is pretty impressive. Most towns then, and now, won’t get 6 trucks up to a 5-11. Very impressive throwback, Steve!!!
#5 by CrabbyMilton on September 8, 2017 - 12:40 PM

I like that PIRSCH tiller.