Still & Box Alarm in a Chicago scrap yard, 12-6-15 (more)

This from Steve Redick:

Took in the still & box alarm Sunday at Cortland and Kingsbury, an industrial area with a fire in a large scrap metal operation. A big stack of junk cars was going. This location is right on the river, so as a result Engine 2, the large fireboat was sent to the scene. They eventually supplied a 4-inch line to Engine 55 which then supplied a multiversal. There was some thought about using the big guns, and the “crows nest” turret was raised on the rear of the boat, but there was not really a clear shot to the burning pile from the river location. Access in and around the scene was poor, and I was shooting directly into a bright, low sun … difficult conditions at best. I was able to get some interesting shots of the boat operation, as well as what I think was some kind of air monitor deployed by the haz mat company. All of the photos and video from this incident can be seen on my site

Steve Redick

Steve Redick photo

Chicago fire boat the Christopher Wheatley

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Tags: Chicago Fire Boat The Christopher Wheatley, Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick, Still & Box Alarm in a Chicago scrap yard

This entry was posted on December 7, 2015, 2:00 PM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene, Fire Service Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

10 Comments (and one trackback)

#1 by Retired Chaplain rev George KOESSLER on December 15, 2015 - 1:34 PM

I HAVE DEEP REGRET IN YOUR LOSS.THERE’S A STORY THAT WAS. SHARED WITH NO FROM MANY YEAR’S PAST .AT A CHICAGO FIRE DEPT. FUNERAL THE FIRE CHIEF, SAID THIS MAN IS NOT A HERO BECAUSE HE DIED HE IS A HERO, BECAUSE HE HAD IN CHOOSING TO BE A CHICAGO FIRE FITGHTER. HE KNOWINGLY ACEPTED POSSIBIE DEATH FORM HIS JOB. WII OF YOU BECAME HERO’S ,WHEN YOU SIGNED ON TO BE A FIRE MAN.
#2 by Gnarldtoad on December 9, 2015 - 4:18 PM

I work in the Marine industry and sell paint for Yachts etc. From just looking at the pictures it looks to me that the paint that was used did not have a strong UV protection property incorporated into it. For what was paid for the vessel they should have used Awlgrip on it and it would have stood up to the environment that it is in.
#3 by LFD 543 on December 8, 2015 - 9:02 PM

Sorry Erik Haak, I didn’t see your post before I commented.
#4 by LFD 543 on December 8, 2015 - 9:00 PM

MABAS 21, you are definitely correct. Something does not look right, there appears to be 2 (or even 3) shades of red. But it could just be the lighting.

Maybe I am seeing something differently on my computer than you are, but I thought you were referring to the entire bottom half of the hull below the black bumper. It appears to be scratched up quite a bit, but I think that is mostly, if not all, a reflection of the water.
#5 by Eric Haak on December 8, 2015 - 8:44 PM

I can assure everyone that the paint on Engine 2 is faded horribly. When you see it in person, it looks like there are three shades of red throughout. This is just my opinion but when it pulled up Sunday, I could not believe how beat up it looked. It is not beat up but the faded paint makes it look like it has been in service forever. I don’t ever get to see it as I don’t make it down to Navy Pier often so I was a little surprised.
#6 by MABAS 21 on December 8, 2015 - 7:16 PM

LFD 543: Unless it’s bad outdoor lighting, I am referring to the main body on the deck level starting with the pilot house all the way to the rear of the vessel (9th pic really illustrates this). The doors are bright red, where as the body is so faded it appears pink. Just an observation made from viewing the photographs.
#7 by LFD 543 on December 8, 2015 - 6:34 PM

MABAS 21: Not knowing specifically what you’re referring to, and not having seen Engine 2 close-up myself, in person – and only judging from the photos…maybe I’m wrong, but below the black bumper, isn’t that just a reflection of the water?

Yes, the black bumper looks beat up, but isn’t it doing its job of protecting the rest of the boat from damage? I’m sure that can (and maybe will) be repainted at some point.

Or is this really a case of “They don’t build ’em like they used to, and $8.5 million doesn’t get you something that lasts 50-60 years” nowadays?
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#8 by ENG 17 on December 8, 2015 - 7:59 AM

Faded Paint? I just assumed it was decked out in Breast Cancer Awareness colors…
#9 by MABAS 21 on December 7, 2015 - 6:02 PM

Engine 2 sure does look pretty beat up, especially with the faded red paint!
#10 by Marty Coyne on December 7, 2015 - 4:51 PM

6-7-1 fed from Engine 2 might have come in handy given the inability to use the guns on Engine 2.