From the Unofficial CFD Engine115 Ambo76 Facebook page:
During the last week we have been able to take a tour of the inside to see the progress! With still no official move in date, we’re happy to know they want the house to be fully functional in every way before we make the big move! Here are some sneak peek pictures for our fans…….
Unofficial CFD Engine115 Ambo76 Facebook page photo
Previous photos are HERE
Pingback: New fire station for Chicago (more) « chicagoareafire.com
#1 by Bill Post on February 15, 2021 - 4:40 AM
Even having two ambulances at the new station isn’t that great an idea.
I don’t know how many of you know that Ambulance 5 was located with Engine 62, Truck 27, and the old 17th Battalion for years. They were relocated to Engine 75 in 1966. I was told they don’t have room for Ambulance 5 at Engine 62.
What happened there? Did they shorten one of the apparatus bays? When Ambulance 5 was at Engine 62’s house, Truck 27 had a tillered aerial ladder, Battalion 17 was a Ford station wagon, and Ambulance 5 was using a large Cadillac.
Engine 62’s house is a better location for Ambulance 5 rather than doubling it up with Ambulance 76 at 115’s new house. Remember that Engine 120 has Ambulance 72 and they are only about two miles northwest of the new house.
This new house, while needed, is too big. They could have built it half the size and used the money to build another station or two.
The Chicago Fire Department did their own study in 1986 that recommended four new stations. In order of priority they were:
1. Engine 75 and Ambulance 5 plus a new truck company at 130th and Indiana.
2. 3100 E 130th Street for Engine 97 another new truck company
3. 103rd and State Street for Engine 93, Ambulance 60, and another new truck company.
4. Approximately 732 W 115th Street for Engine 104 and Truck 24. Engine 115 was supposed to stay where they are now.
Engine 103 had been recommended to be relocated to Truck 61 instead of Engine 104. As many of you know, Engine 104 was relocated to Truck 61 and Engine 103 remained where they currently are. The powers that be decided to put the new house about six blocks south of there so they could open it for Engine 115 and Truck 24.
The new truck proposed for Engine 75’s new house would have been created by taking Engine 63 out of service. Engine 100 would have remained in service instead of Engine 63 while Truck 16 was recommended to be relocated to Engine 81’s house. The new truck proposed for Engine 97 would have been created by taking Engine 20 out of service (which remained in service until 1992). Only the truck proposed for Engine 93’s new house would have been done through hiring additional personnel as the other two trucks would have had personnel from taking two engines out of service.
My point is that the CFD themselves found the need to build four smaller stations for the 22nd and 24th Battalions on the far south side, not one super large station like they are about to open. Louis Galante was fire commissioner at the time of the study and Frank Gagliardi was the Director of Research and Planning for the Chicago Fire Department. The author of the study was Michael E Yasukawa who was the Assistant Director of Research and Planning.
Chuck is right that putting the 5th District Headquarters at Engine 115 doesn’t make any sense. It is on the far south end of both the district and the city. It would make more sense to relocate the 5th District to the proposed house for Engine 93 at 103rd and State Street if they were ever to build it.
The city management has an ‘edifice complex‘ or a need to build fire and police stations that are much too large then needed, especially considering that other stations also need to be built.
#2 by Chuck on February 14, 2021 - 7:01 PM
Whose 3510 bright idea was it to stick the District Headquarters in the far southwest corner of the District?
#3 by Craig Mack on February 14, 2021 - 5:54 PM
For the millionth time, what will be in the house is as follows:
E115, E75, TL24, A76, A5, EMS field officer 4-5-6, and Deputy District Chief 2-2-5.
A29 is going to E121s house.
And no, there’s not a firehouse in the city that you have to listen to the radio, district or not. Usually there’s a couple scanners the guys choose to listen to or not.
#4 by Mike L on February 13, 2021 - 7:02 PM
Very cool! Interesting that the running boards are missing Amb 29 and Eng 75. So much speculation could be made off of that. Disband Eng 75 and reorganize either Trk 43 or 46… and where? Eng 88 or Eng 10? ORD has money in the budget for a 2nd truck or tower. Where is Amb 29 going? Eng 62? Eng 120? Nothing is final until the minute it happens in the city… lol!!
#5 by Mike on February 13, 2021 - 8:11 AM
Dan they are dispatched via computer and an in house alarm terminal. So it doesn’t go over the radio when they’re in the firehouse. With the companies there this firehouse is gonna have over 50 runs a day. It’s gonna be one busy alarm terminal. Plus with it being district headquarters I think they have to listen to the whole district getting dispatched also. It doesn’t sound fun at all.
#6 by Crabbymilton on February 13, 2021 - 7:42 AM
Quite impressive. Only thing missing in there is the apparatus.
#7 by Dan on February 13, 2021 - 12:49 AM
Just curious, how do you dispatch 3 ambulances? Will that house be that busy to support 3 ambulances?
#8 by Wayne on February 12, 2021 - 9:34 PM
As it stands right now the lineup should be Engine 115, Engine 75, Tower 24, Ambulance 29, Ambulance 5, Ambulance 76, and 2-2-5 (Deputy District Chief of the 5th District). It will also be the 5th District headquarters, that will be at the rear of the building.
#9 by Michael m on February 12, 2021 - 8:42 PM
Looks really nice. Engine 115 Ambulance 76 Tower 24 and a Chief will be at this house. What other units will be stationed there? I thought this house would have 2 engines.