Still alarm fire in Chicago, 9-25-19

This from Steve Redick:

still alarm 7228 Balmoral

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Tags: Chicago FD Engine 119, Chicago FD Squad 7, Chicago FD Truck 57, Chicago Fire Department, fire scene photos, Steve Redick

This entry was posted on September 26, 2019, 3:30 PM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

9 Comments

#1 by Bill Post on September 29, 2019 - 11:11 AM

Crabby you are right that black looks classy and the Jack Daniels Fire Department apparatus look sharp. They have a white roof which helps with visibility, however I was thinking about solid black apparatus in terms of visibility especially at night. From a practical point of view solid black isn’t a good idea. But black trim is fine. A few years ago when the CFD ordered some buggies all red I thought they were tacky. I’m glad they went back to the black tops.

Baltimore city was another department that had a classy color scheme for many years when their fire apparatus was white with maroon and gold trim. They modified that in the 1970s and replaced the maroon with Omaha Orange. In recent years they changed to white over red like many other fire departments.

Apparatus in Castle Shannon Pennsylvania are dark green.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department’s suppression rigs were always red however up until the late 1970s their special operations apparatus were bright yellow. Their heavy-duty wrecker was yellow until the 1980s. It was known as their heavy utility rig. Now it’s the heavy rescue and is red. During the late 1960s the LAFD had two yellow 85-foot Snorkels that were never repainted red. The 85-foot Snorkels were only in service a few years before being removed when one flipped over while it was extended and a fire captain was killed. They had about four 50-foot Snorkels mounted onto pumpers that were always red.

The New York City Fire Department had several yellow Mack and American LaFrance engines in the late 70’s early 80’s but they didn’t last long and were repainted red.
#2 by Crabbymilton on September 29, 2019 - 2:30 AM

Bill, I would disagree a bit since I think black really looks classy on any vehicle. Take a look at JACK DANIELS fire apparatus and you’ll see.
Thanks to the internet you can see apparatus of just about any color your mind can come up with.
#3 by Bill Post on September 28, 2019 - 11:13 PM

Fred M, I believe you are correct on Clarendon Hills. Lisle-Woodridge was white over yellow for a long time and is now in the process of converting to red. As far as I know, Fox Lake runs white apparatus with yellow trim (which I think is ugly).
There are a number of departments around the country with odd paint schemes. Some of them look sharp but others are just plain ugly and don’t make any sense to me. Have you every seen the Mt Horeb, Wisconsin fire department? Their apparatus is mainly black with some red trim. Denver, Colorado has white apparatus with gold lettering which, in my opinion, looks sharp. White stands out but a black engine stands out like a sore thumb and is off the wall.
#4 by Fred M on September 28, 2019 - 4:02 PM

Bill, isn’t Clarendon Hills still yellow?
#5 by Tim on September 28, 2019 - 8:36 AM

The Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation was credited for pushing the lime green. The arguement was that at night red apparatus appear black. This is before reflect stripes. Homer Township Fire Protection District in Lockport had lime green back in the day.
The Feds also paid for some light rescue squads and they were mandated to be green. Lockport, Orland and Phoenix (IL), all had these.
#6 by Chuck on September 27, 2019 - 9:45 PM

Always wondered whose bright idea the street layout up in that neck of the woods was. Nice pictures Steve, as usual.
#7 by CrabbyMilton on September 27, 2019 - 11:47 AM

Yeah around here, Wauwatosa and West Allis were of that color from the mid 1970’s. West Allis began to go back to red in the ’90’s and Tosa went to a color combo similar to CFD black over red over 5 years ago. They still have one or two yellow/lime green rigs from the early ’00’s.
So I guess some depts. just did that to get it out of their system then say “jokes over”.
#8 by Bill Post on September 27, 2019 - 10:20 AM

Yes Crabby the rigs from O’Hare stand out due to the lime green color which is mandated by the FAA.

The MiamI-Dade Fire Department still runs with lime green on all of their apparatus with the exception Engine 3 and Rescue Ambulance . They are painted gray over red in memory of firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001. During the 1970s quite a few departments including Detroit, Dallas, and San Antonio switched to lime green. Locally Northbrook went to yellow and Park Ridge was lime green. By the mid 1980s most had switched back to red or red and white. Miami-Dade is one of the few exceptions. They are one of the largest departments in the southern United States but shouldn’t be confused with the City of Miami Fire Department or Miami Beach. Those are separate departments with white over red apparatus.

The Miami-Dade Fire Department covers Dade County and many of the suburbs around Miami with the exception of Coral Gables, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach.
#9 by CrabbyMilton on September 27, 2019 - 6:04 AM

Those O’Hare rigs stand out don’t they?