chicagoareafire.com

21 Comments

• #1 by Mike on February 17, 2021 - 4:57 PM

  

  Bob,

  They did stop sending the fire attack chief to working fires.

• #2 by Bill Post on February 14, 2021 - 2:30 AM

  

  Bob I don’t know if they made any operational changes since then when it comes to the attack chief designation.

• #3 by Bob on February 12, 2021 - 11:08 PM

  

  Bill Post

  For the last couple months, they were sending a third battalion chief on working fires as “fire attack chief”. Did they stop that?

• #4 by Chris S on February 12, 2021 - 12:22 PM

  

  Still think this mega station is idiotic, always thought they’d put E120 & T24 in a new house, E115 & E75 could also combine but in a better spot that doesn’t put E75 some darn far from their district

• #5 by Bill Post on February 12, 2021 - 3:25 AM

  

  Fred M as you probably know the tower ladder in Chicago functions and is equipped as a truck company however the basket gives it added capabilities as both a heavy duty master stream device and as a rescue and lifting device.

  Ever since 1986, when Chicago put the first six tower ladders in service, they always functioned as truck companies as opposed to being used strictly for their aerial platform which is how Chicago’s Snorkel companies were used. They all assumed the duties of the truck companies they replaced however they also were give Still and Box Alarm districts where, if they were not due as the first or second truck on the Still Alarm, one would respond as the third truck where they could be utilized for their aerial platform master stream if needed.

  Up until the mid 1990s a tower ladder would be due on a Still and Box Alarm, a 2-11 alarm, and a 3-11 alarm along with two conventional truck companies per alarm up to and including the 3-11 alarm. Since then the 3-11 tower ladder and truck company response was cancelled. Now the trucks and tower ladders only respond automatically until the 2-11. Any trucks after that are special called unless a Mayday signal is given.

  Beginning in April 2002, the CFD initiated the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) where a third truck, a battalion chief, and an ambulance would be dispatched on a working still alarm fire. Their job was to standby in case a firefighter was trapped, disoriented, or injured while fighting a fire. For the first several years of the RIT program, if a tower ladder was third due on the still alarm, then the tower ladder would be dispatched as the RIT truck. That was later changed so tower ladders are not used as RIT companies. That way they can be used for their elevated stream or as an extra truck company to fight the fire.

  Fred since you were asking about the tower ladders, they replaced Chicago’s large Snorkel companies for elevated master streams and rescue work when an elevated platform was called for. Chicago’s first Snorkel, the original GMC/50-foot Pitman, was put in service in October 1958. Snorkels 2 and 3 went in service in May 1959, and Snorkels 4, 5, and 6 were put in service in 1961. Snorkel 7 was put in service in early 1962. Snorkels 1 and 2 were originally called Water Towers 4 and 5 however they were redesignated as Snorkels in May 1959.

  From 1961 until 1969 two regular Snorkel companies would normally be dispatched on every Still and Box Alarm. A third Snorkel was dispatched on the 2-11 alarm and a fourth on the 3-11 alarm. Any Snorkel needed after the 3-11 alarm would be special called.

  The bottom line is that Chicago’s tower ladders are truck companies. Philadelphia is one of the last few fire department that are using large Snorkels which are assigned as ladder companies, however their last two Snorkels and their two mid-mounted tower ladders are all being replaced Seagrave 75-foot Aerialscopes by the end of the year.

  Chicago never used it’s Snorkels as truck companies. In 1983 under Fire Commissioner Louis Galante, the Chicago Fire Department was running with six Snorkels and six Squads plus Snorkel Squad 7 at O’Hare. He took three of the Snorkels and three squads out of service and the remaining three became into two-piece Snorkel squads on September 19 1983. In late 1985 and early 1986, Chicago purchased the first six tower ladders which were more efficient than using Snorkels which had only been used for their elevating streams and platforms while a tower ladder could be used as conventional truck company if the platform wasn’t needed.
  I hope this answers your question Fred.

• #6 by harry on February 12, 2021 - 12:41 AM

  

  mike m in 2016 towers 14 37 and 39 got new towers then 5 and 21 and most recent 10

• #7 by Danny on February 12, 2021 - 12:14 AM

  

  Michael,

  The e-one deal is a purchase agreement, there is no set number to purchase on any apparatus type. There was a number listed for the maximum amounts of each unit to purchase. That same document said they were due to order 10 tower ladders, at the time that would have meant replacing all the Frontline towers including the newest ones (at the time) which were 14 37 and 39. Based on the info relayed to me all orders are on hold until further notice due to the financial losses due to covid 19, which we could see orders this year or in the next few months it all depends on what the city decides.

  AT 8 is still out of service unknown return date as it has to have a new aerial ladder installed.

• #8 by Michael m on February 11, 2021 - 10:19 PM

  

  This is off topic, is Aerial Tower 8 back in service yet? Or is it still being repaired at E-One?

• #9 by Michael m on February 11, 2021 - 9:54 PM

  

  Since 2016 the city has taken delivery of 13 new trucks 1 new aerial tower 4 new Squads, 23 new engines and 3 new Tower ladders including, Towers 5,10 and 21. Finally a new SCUBA unit for 683. That is a lot of new vehicles, still many more yet to come!

• #10 by Michael m on February 11, 2021 - 9:50 PM

  

  Does anyone know when E-One will start building all the other trucks for the city? In 2019 they built 3 engines, 1 137 foot Aerial Tower, 1 Tower ladder for Tower ladder 10. In 2020 they built 7 engines for E 30, E72,E 81, E 93, E102, E127 and E 43 I believe?
  Trucks 2,3,4,17,22,29,30,35,40,49,52, and 58.
  In 2021 they will get a new Tower Ladder 63.
  They have 80 engines that need to be built and 48 trucks that need to be built per the contract.
  Will they start building more vehicles for the city next year?

• #11 by Michael m on February 11, 2021 - 9:18 PM

  

  Glad to see there will be a Tower 24. What does this really mean for Tower ladder 34? Glad Tower ladder 63 will be getting a new E-One! It will be at least 30 years since they had a E-One! Was tower 63 last E-One a 1985 or 1988?
  I am sure the new tower ladder will be pictured here once complete! I am guessing it will be a 2021 E-One!
  By the way, E-One introduced a new Cyclone chassis! I am sure the new Tower 63 and any future E-One for the city will be on the “New 100 inch wide Cyclone Chasis.

• #12 by Fred M on February 11, 2021 - 6:47 PM

  

  Without causing a stir, can someone explain the differences of a “regular”
  Truck Company vs. a Tower? Obvious difference is in the equipment, but
  in the personnel and their duties? Bill P. any insight you can offer?

• #13 by Danny on February 11, 2021 - 6:06 PM

  

  The rumor about Tower 34 being downgraded to a regular ladder company is just that, it’s been a rumor that’s been going around for almost a year. There’s also a rumor going around that they were going to downgrade Tower ladder 34 and Tower ladder 37 and make truck 24 and truck 16 new towers. But as I said all these have been rumors floating around in the Chicago Fire Department circles on Facebook for almost a year if not longer

• #14 by Bill Post on February 11, 2021 - 4:53 PM

  

  Has the information about Tower Ladder 34 becoming a conventional truck company been confirmed or is that also just a rumor?
  Personally I would just as soon see Tower Ladder 34 remain and have Tower Ladder 24 become an 11th tower ladder instead of just maintaining 10 of them in service.

• #15 by Danny on February 11, 2021 - 2:21 PM

  

  I know the guy who runs that website and there was a miscommunication somebody reported that there were six aerials on order and the miscommunication was they were referring to the aerials that were being delivered which would have been the last six that went in service as of right now through reliable sources there is only one unit on order as stated which is the tower for O’Hare Airport which should currently be under construction. He has been notified and he is currently trying to remove those from the page

• #16 by Marty Coyne on February 11, 2021 - 2:13 PM

  

  According to the CFD Shop Numbers site, there are 6 aerial units E-371 to E-377 on order. Not sure of the accuracy..

  http://www.cfdshopnumbers.com/e-series

• #17 by Danny on February 11, 2021 - 2:05 PM

  

  Mabas21

  After talking with somebody who’s currently assigned a truck 24 they are supposed to be getting it when it goes into the new Firehouse as they’ve been doing training on it at the firehouse the last couple weeks. And it should be going to them when the new house opens they’re doing the finishing touches now but if I had to guess I would say it’s 98% complete

• #18 by Danny on February 11, 2021 - 2:01 PM

  

  Everything that Aiden just said it is completely false and has not been established as a fact. There are no current orders for any rigs in the city and no plans in the immediate future due to covid-19, with the exception of a tower ladder that is on order for O’Hare Airport

• #19 by Aidan Hughes on February 11, 2021 - 11:41 AM

  

  Tower 24 will use this truck until they get a brand new tower ladder from E-One. The 2014 Spartan ERV 103′ Rearmount assigned to Truck 24 will be reassigned to Tower 34 as Truck 34. Do they have new tower ladders on order?

• #20 by MABAS 21 on February 11, 2021 - 11:29 AM

  

  Obviously this is a newly established company for the CFD. I highly doubt that it will fit in the current house on Vincennes. Will this be relocated to Engine 115’s mega house? BTW, is that house completed yet?

• #21 by Danny on February 11, 2021 - 11:03 AM

  

  X tower 10 2002 pierce

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