This from Eric Haak:
Here are six images of the well documented fire at the International Harvester Works at 26th and Rockwell back in the early 1970s. Included is a nice image of Big John working with the county courthouse in the background. I also thought it was an interesting image showing them cooling off the buildings from the radient heat. In the image that shows Engine 18 in front of the building, it is hard to see but a firefighter is holding a small child in his arms and the kid is wearing a firefighters costume. That kid probably still remembers being there even though he looks like he couldn’t been more than 5 at the time. Enjoy!
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
February 17, 1974 5-11 and 2 Specials 26th & Rockwell. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
#1 by Bruce Mayor on October 31, 2017 - 2:11 AM
This was insane. My dad, brother and I grabbed a ride with one of the squads. Our assignment was to rescue one of the snorkels. The heat was so intense it was melting the light lenses on the back of the snorkel. We used a couple of axes to cut the lines so they could pull out. That left one obstacle in the way, a cyclone fence. So they drove through the fence and wrapped the fence around the rear tandems. We spent over half an hour freeing up the tandems while they hosed us down because of the heat.
#2 by Bill Post on October 30, 2017 - 2:43 PM
I don’t know how many people on this site know that six and a half years before this fire, Chicago Engine 36 was taken out of service from a fire station at 2346 W 25th street on September 16 1967. Engine 36 was just three blocks away, but by the time of this fire they were long gone.
At the beginning of 1963 the CFD still had 123 (land based) engine companies. Within a few years many of them were taken out of service.
At the time, three of Chicago’s 129 engines were fire boats however Engines 3, 31, and 90 were out of service by 1960. In 1963 the fire department began taking more engines out of service, and by the end of 1967 there were only 110 land based engine companies. There were still more that the CFD would take out of service in the coming years.
#3 by David on October 30, 2017 - 2:34 PM
The last shot looks insane, this must have been really spectacular job. Looking at the photos I wonder if there’s actually any footage from this fire as I can’t recall seeing any.