More from Derrick Warner chronicling EMS history in the northern suburbs
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Derrick Warner photo
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Derrick Warner photo
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Derrick Warner photo
More from Derrick Warner chronicling EMS history in the northern suburbs
Derrick Warner photo
Derrick Warner photo
Derrick Warner photo
Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Derrick Warner, Kirk Bennett, vintage Cadillac ambulance, Wilmette FD Ambulance 209, Wilmette Fire Department history
This entry was posted on January 30, 2025, 11:00 AM and is filed under Ambulance photos, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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#1 by Mike hellmuth on February 1, 2025 - 9:22 AM
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The forerunner of the modern ambulance Palos Heights had a1966 Cadillac I
believe was their first one after the Cadillac came the International version followed by the van conversions up to the current modern units quite a transformation
#2 by Phil Stenholm on January 30, 2025 - 10:54 PM
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Wilmette ran police station-wagon patrol-ambulances until 1969 when they purchased their first Cadillac fire department ambulance (209) which is pictured above.
Ambulance 209 ran out of Station # 1 (now known as Station # 26) on Lake avenue for two years and then was moved to Station # 2 (now known as Station # 27) on Illinois Road in 1971 when a second Cadillac ambulance (211) was placed into service at Station #1.
The Cadillac ambulances were backed-up by two stretcher-equipped station-wagon staff cars, a 1967 Dodge (207) at station # 2 and a 1969 Chevrolet (210) at Station # 1, that could be staffed by engine company personnel if needed.
Wilmette established their fire department paramedic program in 1977, and acquired their first two MICU ambulances (the new 209 and 212) at that time, with the 1971 Cadillac ambulance 211 retained as the sole reserve ambulance.
#3 by Martin on January 30, 2025 - 1:57 PM
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Anyone know if the car is still around somewhere? I feel like seen it a car show before.
#4 by CrabbyMilton on January 30, 2025 - 11:29 AM
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Those CADILLAC based ambulances were certainly popular back in those days.
It just so happens that I’m going thru my MEDICAL CENTER TV program DVD set. It first ran on CBS from 1969-1976. Those ambulances were featured quite often.