From an anonymous source:
E-355 assigned to tower 5E-356 assigned to tower 21
thanks Scott & Danny
New tower ladders for Chicago
New tower ladders for Chicago
New tower ladders for Chicago
New tower ladders for Chicago
New tower ladders for Chicago
#1 by harry on January 6, 2019 - 10:44 PM
while I would guess and hope they go eone but time will tell weather they go eone pierce or other
#2 by Jim B on January 6, 2019 - 4:06 PM
Most people should know that a department will seek bids based upon a certain spec.
If the spec was written a certain way in favor of a supplier, in this case E-One, others will not bid because of having to take exceptions to the specs.
E-One has had a history of supplying apparatus to CFD back to the 1980’s when it’s dealer was Able Fire.
Able Fire no longer exists because it was caught giving pay-offs to CFD officials to get contracts.
I believe the owner at that time may have served time when caught.
His Nephew went south to Southern, Il and opened his own dealership there many years ago.
St Louis, which is a premier department will not buy from them after a bad experience with a tower ladder years ago
#3 by rich S. on November 27, 2018 - 5:06 PM
All manufacturers have some issues with rigs it’s pretty unavoidable there are only 2 types of motors and really 1 transmission put in them. Rigs today have so many electronic components and safety mechanisms that problems are a given. However the other issues such as body, chassis and aerial corrosion and rust which lead to failure or very costly repairs is another issue. Some manufactures flat out do not view these as there problem and in turn have poor service and that’s a huge turn off to the end user. The city is happy with the product they have received from E-One and more so have a great working relationship with Fire Service Inc. the local rep. We have 1985 E-One rigs that are still used today so the product has spoken for it’s self in the past.
#4 by cs on November 27, 2018 - 4:01 PM
I’m surprised engines 9 and 10 at o’hare have had problems since day one and are in and out of the shop quite often
#5 by anthony R on November 27, 2018 - 3:25 PM
Why does it seems like every single manufacturer is putting out more and more lemons? The quality for all these manufacturers is going down for sure. Pierce,seagrave, eone,sutphen all have been hit hit or miss from what i know.
#6 by rich S. on November 26, 2018 - 6:04 PM
The city wants to accept the bid however Pierce has apparently filed some type of complaint which is now holding up the stamp of approval from the city. 2FM and the CFD are very happy with the new E-One rigs and are looking to get many more. They are not happy with nor do they want to get any more Pierce apparatus.
#7 by DENNIS on November 26, 2018 - 6:22 AM
Ok here is the current status of the apparatus contract as of 11/26/2018:
Emergency One was the sole company to submit a bid of $106,035,740.00
Pierce also was interested but did not submit a bid.
The bid process closed on 9/24/2018
It was recommended to accept on 10/4/2018
It is NOT been approved as of 11/26/2018..so NOBODY is awarded the contract yet.
Which means the city can either not accept it and start over or accept it and get things started.
https://webapps1.cityofchicago.org/vcsearch/city/bidtracker
#8 by Wayne on November 25, 2018 - 11:27 PM
Very true Rich!
#9 by Marty Coyne on November 25, 2018 - 12:16 PM
It’s from the bid submitted by E-One. I have a PDF of it. Can’t post pics or PDF here or I would. It’s online somewhere but I’m out and don’t remember the site. Nothing to say the city won’t kill this contract bid like it’s fine many times before, but that’s the bid. The two companies listed were E-One and Pierce which didn’t even bother to submit an actual bid. If they go with this a it’ll be E-One
#10 by Danny on November 25, 2018 - 11:26 AM
Marty I would like to know your source as of 11 25 18 at 1130 am the office of procurement services most up to date contracts to e one dealer friend service inc is from 11 5 18 and is an add on to the Galveston area contract like the last few engines and towers were and it’s for 1 e one 137 ft ladder for AT 1. No details on the other contract available anywhere I can see. Also 8 towers makes no sense to me as with 5 and 21 getting new rigs that will be 5 of 9 city towers replaced since 2015 leaving 10 23 34 54 and ohare tower 63 as pierce rigs so even if the rumors true about t 24 going to a tower then where are the other 2 gonna go?
#11 by Bill Post on November 24, 2018 - 9:57 PM
John, I heard that E/One was the only bidder, however they did have a pre bid conference several months earlier and representatives from Pierce, E/One, and Rosenbauer were there. When it came to actual bidding I understand that it was only E/One. The Department of Procurement postponed the final bidding date several times. It was supposed to be in March then April, then June, and July, and then finally in September. It looks like only E/One submitted a bid and thats all that I know.
#12 by John Antkowski on November 24, 2018 - 9:05 PM
Did Chicago sign the contract? Does anyone know who the bidders were? I’m guessing it’s going to be E One. Who ever Chicago goes with is building engines trucks and towers. I hope it’s E One! I like the product it appears to be built better than they used to be. Just saying.
#13 by rich S. on November 24, 2018 - 6:31 PM
Wayne, don’t believe anything until it’s running on the street paper and rumor mean nothing in this city decisions change hourly.
#14 by Rich S. on November 24, 2018 - 6:27 PM
Just a few thoughts, first and foremost 2FM and the CFD replace vehicles not by only by birth date but also by the amount of down time and repairs to the vehicle. So the more repair costs or out of service time the better the chance of replacement. Also replacing the Pierce aerials is not a waste of money as they are 2002-2005 and we have several issues with them, anything from electrical issues to corrosion of the frame and aerial ladders there are several issues with the Spartan/Crimson engines as well. Don’t you ever wonder why most companies are in spares from the 80’s and 90’s most of the time? The regular replacement of these rigs is important for operations as it keeps the fleet as new as possible and it also allows for a reliable pool of spares.
#15 by Wayne on November 24, 2018 - 4:46 PM
There’s also a rumor that the new house on 119th will have Engine 115 and Engine 75 will go out of service and become a new truck or tower out of that house. In that case Truck 24 will stay where it is. The rumor mill spins fast and constantly though so don’t believe anything until an order comes out.
#16 by cs on November 24, 2018 - 11:33 AM
Eng. 11,39,74
#17 by Dave P. on November 24, 2018 - 8:07 AM
Earlier post mentioned qty 3 remaining HME Luverne engines, Where are they located ?
#18 by Bill Post on November 24, 2018 - 12:29 AM
Aidan purchasing the new apparatus is not a waste of money as the rigs that will be replaced are due and in some cases are overdue. As a rule they try to replace apparatus at intervals of between 12 to 15 years and in some cases earlier. As you can see some of the tower ladders like Tower 21 are over 20 years old. The three remaining HME/Luverne engines are about that age. I am sure that the Freighliner assigned to Engine 92 is scheduled to be replaced within the next few years. After the last three HMEs get replaced then the Spartan/Luvernes at Engines 127, 81, and 97 should be due followed by the Freightliner based on age. Remember that this contract will be spread out over several years and will not be done all at once. It will more then likely be done by ordering approximately 5 to 10 rigs every year. By the time all 90 engines and 45 trucks will be ordered it could be 5 or more years.
#19 by Bill Post on November 24, 2018 - 12:08 AM
Fleet Guy you wrote that the plan was for Engine 115 and Engine 73 to be in a new station. Was that a mistake? Engine 75 is located much closer to the proposed site than Engine 73.
Rich S is correct that the fire department can assign companies where they want and with whatever kind of rig as long as they adhere to the current manning agreement and the number of companies in service. That said, the Chicago Fire Department has also done some stupid things over the years in terms of fire company assignments. They have also ignored or messed up some good ideas and plans that have been proposed over the years.
Some on this site may remember the long term master plans for station and company locations from the Maatman reports authored in 1963, 1968, and 1971. There were of course several revisions to those plans over the years. While many of the stations were built some weren’t or were came years later such as Engine 70 and Truck 47’s station. Engine 18 which was opened around the same time was originally to be built at 15th and Ashland, while Engine 25 was supposed to stay in service at the fire academy station. Engine 23 was to be taken out of service well before they opened the new house in 1973 at 19th and Damen. However Engine 39 was recommended to be put in a new house at 3400 S Damen. Engine 104 was to have been relocated with Engine 107 in their new station at 1101 S California and Truck 61 was to have been relocated into a new station with Engine 74 at 106th and Ewing where they are currently. Engine 97 was to be put in a new station a few blocks north of their current location and it was Truck 2 that was to be relocated with Engine 97. Truck 39 was to be relocated into Engine 5’s house instead. There was no recommendation to build a house at 116th and Avenue O where Truck 61 and Engine 104 currently are.
In all three reports there was a recommendation to build a station for Engine 115 at it’s current location. In the 1968 and 1971 reports Truck 24 was to be relocated with Engine 120 in the general area of Engine 120’s current location. I understand that they were even planning to build a new station for them on Vincennes somewhere in between 111th and 108th street. I have no idea why that was never done.
Engine 84 was to stay at 62nd and Green. Why you might ask? Because until around 1975, Engine 51 and Truck 30 were located at 6017 S State Street not more then a block and half south of Engine 84’s current location. It was determined that a station wasn’t needed there and that Truck 30 and Engine 51 should be at 67th and Vernon with Engine 47. So in 2005 a new house opened a block north of where Engine 51 and Truck 30 had been. Engine 61 would have remained in service only about a half mile north of there and Engine 84 and Truck 51 would have remained in Englewood west of Halsted Street. It was mainly the Quinn administration under Mayor Richard J Daley that had these reports done even though they didn’t follow all of the recommendations.
In 1986 the CFD’s Research and Planning Department conducted an in-house company location study that concluded there wasn’t an adequate number of engine and truck companies located south of 95th Street. There were not enough engines on the far south side that could be used as change of quarters companies. Additionally they identified a number of demand zones that weren’t properly covered which meant that fire companies wouldn’t arrive on the scene within an acceptable time frame. To make up for the shortage it was recommended that two engines from the center of the city be moved to the far south side. The initial recommendation was to relocate Engine 103 into Truck 61’s current station and to have Engine 104 move into a new station near 732 W 115th Street with Truck 24. Engine 104 had been with Engine 1 at the time after moving out of their house at 1401 S Michigan Avenue a year prior. As you know it was Engine 104 that was relocated into Truck 61’s house instead of Engine 103.
The 1986 study also recommended that four new stations be built. The first near 13000 S Indiana for Engine 75 and a new truck company. The truck company would be have been created by taking Engine 63 out of service. Instead Engine 100 would have remained in service about a block and a half south of Engine 63’s current quarters. The second at approximately 3100 E 130th Street for Engine 97 and another new truck company which created by taking Engine 20 out of service. They had been located at 1320 W Concord Place near the old Department of Fleet Management. The third would be built near 103rd and State Street for Engine 93 and another new truck company. The fourth would be at approximately 732 W 115th Street for Engine 103 and Truck 24. Engine 115 would stay at or near 119th and Peoria. The study also recommended that Truck 16 be relocated with Engine 81 at their current station.
Two engines would have been moved to the far south side plus the creation of three new truck companies and the relocation of two existing truck companies. Not one of those recommendations have been followed. It seems that the Chicago Fire Department can’t even take it’s own advice.
While the CFD supposedly would like to make Truck 24 into a tower ladder and move it into a new house for Engine 115, a more central location would be if they finally built a house at 103rd and State Street for Engine 93. Putting a tower Ladder in service there is a better location then at 119th and Peoria because that is at the edge of the city. It would seem to make more sense to convert Truck 40 into a tower ladder until a new house is built for Engine 93 (if it ever gets built).
#20 by Aidan Hughes on November 23, 2018 - 6:48 PM
So they are replacing all the Pierce ladders and Spartan/Luverne Engines? That’s a waste of money! Engine 92’s Beverage Truck should be replaced with an E-One Engine soon! How many engines and trucks did they order this time? And is it a rumor or official that Aerial Tower 1 and Truck 7 become Truck 1 and Aerial Tower 7 and Truck 24 becoming Tower 24?
#21 by rich S. on November 23, 2018 - 5:29 PM
Aiden, anything is possible as far as companies being moved around the collective bargaining contract specifies only the number of fireman per company and the number of engines, trucks and ambulances not where they are located or who’s got what. If they want to move companies or change from a truck to a AT or TL they can do it every week if they want.
#22 by Marty Coyne on November 23, 2018 - 3:16 PM
Aidan, The bid is for 8 Tower Ladders, 45 Straight Sticks and 90 Engines. The total contract is just over $106 million.
#23 by Aidan Hughes on November 23, 2018 - 1:26 PM
That is not possible that Aerial Tower 1 and Truck 7 will switch. And it’s also not possible for Truck 24 to become Tower Ladder 24 and Tower 34 becoming Truck 34. Does the bid have 8 straight sticks or tower ladders
#24 by FLEET GUY on November 23, 2018 - 12:06 PM
AT-1 and T-7 switching rigs…..
#25 by FLEET GUY on November 23, 2018 - 12:03 PM
There is a plan moving forward however with new fire commissioner/ mayor election could change. The working plan is to built a new mega firehouse on city owned property on 119th St. next to Engine 115’s house. The new house will have E-115, E-73, the new TOWER LADDER 24, two ambos & 5th Dist. HQ. The new tower 24 might replace tower 34 making that a truck or adding a new tower ladder all together. Also there is talks about moving Aerial Tower 1 & Truck 7.
#26 by Marty Coyne on November 22, 2018 - 5:26 PM
The new contract Chicago just bid out has 8 new Tower Ladders on it the current Pierce’s will be replaced. Rumor has a new Tower Ladder maybe going into service. That leaves three that will presumably replace the first gen new E Ones giving the city the Pierce’s and the E-Ones as spares within 5-6 years.
#27 by Rich S. on November 22, 2018 - 4:50 PM
Looks like 2FM /shops at 103rd street
#28 by Michael m on November 22, 2018 - 1:20 PM
Where was this photo taken at?
#29 by rich S. on November 21, 2018 - 7:43 PM
Now just need new ones for 10,23,34 & 54 and we’ll be set and have some good spares for a while. 10 & 34 are 2002’s 16 years old and 23 & 54 are 2005’s 13 years old.
#30 by Michael m on November 20, 2018 - 11:44 PM
They turned out nice!
#31 by harry on November 20, 2018 - 11:05 PM
well now I can finally see one of the new eone tower 21 looks awesome
#32 by Austin on November 20, 2018 - 5:42 PM
Boy did tower 21 need new a rig bad. Glad they, and tower 5 have some great looking E-Ones NOW.
#33 by Larry on November 20, 2018 - 3:07 PM
I was right! I knew the oldest towers would get the new rigs! Can’t wait to see them on the streets.