This from Danny Nelms:
Former Schaumburg squad now in Lovell, ME info on photo and newer photo from Dept FB page

Jim Topham photo

Lovell VFD photo
Jun 21
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 3 Comments
This from Danny Nelms:
Former Schaumburg squad now in Lovell, ME info on photo and newer photo from Dept FB page
Jim Topham photo
Lovell VFD photo
Tags: Jim Topham, Lovell Fire Department, Lovell Volunteer Fire Department, new home for former Schaumburg squad, Schaumburg Fire Department history
Jun 19
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 1 Comment
Excerpts from bookclubchicago.org:
A decades-old mural painted to memorialize firefighters who died in a massive arson fire is getting a facelift.
Chicago Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is teaming up with the city to restore the Fireman’s Memorial Park mural overlooking the intersection of Diversey, Milwaukee, and Kimball avenues. Originally painted in the mid-’80s after the deadly fire, the mural has deteriorated in recent years from extreme weather.
He is using about $50,000 in aldermanic discretionary funds to replace the crumbling mural, and is working with the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on a new mural, expected to debut this fall.
Chicago firefighters Daniel Nockels, Michael Forchione, and Michael Talley died Feb. 1, 1985, while battling a massive fire at 2847 N. Milwaukee Ave. The fire was classified as arson., and an investigation ruled that the owner of an electronics store in the building had hired someone to set fire to the building for the insurance money. Both men were charged, but the case against one was thrown out after a judge ruled police obtained his confession illegally. The other was convicted of aggravated arson and murder in 1986.
Fire officials and city leaders dedicated a small park just south of the site of the deadly blaze to the three firefighters and commissioned an artist to paint a mural in tribute. The mural, which depicts the firefighters with angel wings, was originally painted on the Bank of America building next to the park, but it was later moved to its current location.
The mural was retouched in the early 2000s, but it has since fallen into a state of disrepair. Chunks of it have broken off, and the wood and steel structure holding it up has pretty extensive water damage.
City officials are putting together an advisory panel of local artist to select the muralist for the restoration project. Construction is expected to begin next month. The existing mural’s panels will be preserved by the city.
Tags: Chicago Firefighter Daniel Nockels, Chicago Firefighter Michael Forchione, Chicago Firefighter Michael Talley, Chicago to commission new mural to commemorative fallen firefighters, Fireman’s Memorial Park mural
Jun 16
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, throwbackthursday | 3 Comments
This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT-The Matteson Fire Dept.’s Engine 6, a 1973 Seagrave 1250/500Mike Summa
Mike Summa photo
Tags: #TBT, 1973 Seagrave fire engine, Matteson FD Engine 6, Matteson Fire Department history, Mike Summa, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday
Jun 9
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | No Comments
This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT- This was the Manhattan FPD’s Engine 1211, a 1984 IHC/Pierce 1500/1000, for those of you who like commercial type apparatus.Mike Summa
Mike Summa photo
Tags: #TBT, Manhattan Fire Protection District history, Mike Summa, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday
Jun 7
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 7 Comments
This from Danny Nelms:
Bogalusa, La spare ladder 1975 ALF 100ft RM formerly Orland Park Illinois
From David Gray on FB
From David Gray on FB
From David Gray on FB
Tags: 1975 American LaFrance rear mount aerial ladder, Bogalusa FD spare aerial ladder, David Gray, New home for former Orland Park FD aerial
Jun 6
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 4 Comments
From Danny Nelms:
Former Bensenville tanker now in Melvin, IA
From FD FB page
Melvin FD photo
and from our files
Larry Shapiro photo
Tags: #larryshapiro, Bensenville FD Tanker 92, Bensenville Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, larryshapiro.tumblr.com, Melvin Fire Department, New home for former Bensenville tanker, shapirophotography.net
Jun 4
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 6 Comments
This from Danny Nelms:
Former Mount Prospect engine now in West Allis, WI – from FB unknown photographer
photographer unknown
Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Mount Prospect FIre Department, new home for former Mount Prospect fire engine, West Allis FD Engine 62, West Allis Fire Department
Jun 3
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 1 Comment
From Danny Nelms:
Former Bensenville tower now in service in Wyoming at the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department
Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department photo
Tags: Bensenville Fire Department history, chicagoareafire.com, New Castle VFD Tower 17, new home for former Bensenville FD tower ladder, Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department
May 31
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos | 1 Comment
This from Danny Nelms:
Morenci Fire Department, MI Truck 7 sold to them in 2019
Tags: chicagoareafire.com, fire truck photos, Glen Ellyn FD history, Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company, Morenci Fire Department, new home for Glen Ellyn tower ladder
May 30
Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 4 Comments
From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment about the History of the Evanston Fire Department
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
On May 1, 1975, the Evanston City Council accepted bids for a new 1,000 / 300 triple-combination pumper, with the exact same specifications as the two Howe pumpers purchased a year earlier. The new pumper would replace the 1952 Pirsch 1000 / 100 TCP (Engine 25) that was originally Squad 21 before being rebuilt as a TCP by General Body in 1966. Mack came in with the low bid of $53,725, beating out FWD Seagrave, Pirsch, and several other apparatus manufacturers for the contract. As expected, EFD Chief George Beattie specified that the new Mack pumper be painted “safety yellow,” just like the two Howe pumpers delivered in 1974 and 1975.
In addition, Chief Beattie received a new Plymouth sedan (fleet #301) in 1975 that was painted red instead of “safety yellow,” with the chief’s 1973 Plymouth station wagon transferred to the platoon commanders as the new F-2 after a light bar was installed on the roof replacing the portable “Kojak light.” The former F-2 (1971 Dodge station wagon) was transferred to the Fire Prevention Bureau to be used by the newly-created fire investigation unit (arson squad) that would be staffed each shift by a trained fire investigator, with one of the two FPB captain’s positions eliminated after Capt. Joe Thill retired and was not replaced.
Also, as part of the contract resulting from the firefighters strike of February 1974, the average work-week for firefighters was reduced from 56 hours to 54 hours, with two new positions created in the EFD in 1975 that increased total membership from 100 to 102. One fireman would now be assigned each shift to cover for a fireman absent while on a “short day” (formerly known as a “Kelly Day”), with three firemen on each shift covering for vacations and sick leave. As a result, the de facto EFD minimum shift staffing was reduced from 28 to 27, with six three-man companies (the five engine companies plus Truck 22), two four-man companies (Truck 21 and Squad 21), and the shift commander (F-2).
Eighteen new firefighters were hired in 1974-75, including Samuel Boddie, Art Miller, Bill Betke, Jim Potts, Dave Lopina, Bob Hayden, Mike Adam, Don Gschwind, Thomas Simpson, Joe Hayes, Bob Wagner, Keith Filipowski, Ken Dohm, Tom Kavanagh, Milton Dunbar, Ward Cook, Jim Keaty, and Donald Williams. Also, Fireman James “Guv” Whalen was promoted to captain, firemen Harry Harloff and Ken Perysian retired after 23 years of service, and several other firefighters resigned.
On Wednesday, May 28, 1975, the Evanston Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in the rear storage yard of the Rust-Oleum Corporation at 2301 Oakton Street. A second alarm was struck immediately upon arrival of the first companies, and a MABAS box was eventually pulled, the first time the EFD had requested a MABAS box since the system was implemented in 1968.
At the peak of the fire, 19 2-1/2-inch hand lines, two deluge nozzles, one multi-versal, one ladder pipe from Truck 22, one street jack, and one deck gun from Squad 21 supplied streams that were played onto the storage yard and nearby exposures, as numerous 55-gallon drums full of paint exploded and were sent hundreds of feet into the air. Evanston police temporarily evacuated some of the residences to the east and north.
A 200,000-gallon water storage tank located at the southwest corner of Cleveland & Hartrey was supplied by a 24-inch feeder main that extended south from Church Street. The storage tank fed a 1,000-GPM pump owned by Rust-Oleum and operated by their company fire brigade, as well as the standard ten-inch and twelve-inch residential mains in the neighborhood. Engines from the Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Morton Grove, and Winnetka fire departments pumped water from numerous hydrants located to the east and north of the fire, including one hydrant at the dead-end of Cleveland Street at the C&NW RR Mayfair Division tracks 1/4 mile north of Rust-Oleum.
The conflagration was eventually surrounded, drowned, contained, and extinguished, but not before causing $775,000 in damage, making it the fourth highest loss from a fire in Evanston’s history up until that point in time. Only the fires at the American Hospital Supply Corporation (October 1963), the Rolled Steel Corporation (January 1970), and Bramson’s clothing store (October 1971) cause greater damage. If nothing else, the Rust-Oleum fire was certainly the most spectacular fire in Evanston’s history!
The next day — May 29, 1975 — the Evanston Fire Department celebrated its centennial. Although May 29, 1875, was the date that the EFD was legally established by ordinance, the actual genesis of the village fire department was January 7, 1873, when the 60-man volunteer Pioneer Fire Company of Evanston was accepted for service by the village board.
The purpose of the fire department ordinance of May 29, 1875 was not to create a firefighting force. The Pioneer Fire Company — renamed “Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1” in December 1874 when the Holly High-Pressure Waterworks was placed into service — already existed, and had existed for more than two years. Rather, the real purpose of the ordinance was to legally describe the method by which additional volunteer fire companies could be organized and accepted for service with the village going forward, since by May 1875 the C. J. Gilbert Hose Company was already in the process of being organized, chartered, and trained.
Once the C. J. Gilbert Hose Company was ready to be accepted for service, the ordinance needed to describe the relationship between the two hose companies. They might be rivals, but they could not be competitors. They had to work together for a common purpose. Also, the ordinance legally installed the fire marshal as chief of the fire department, with the two hose companies plus any other companies that might eventually be organized and accepted for service officially and legally under the command and direction of the fire marshal.
Tags: C. J. GILBERT HOSE COMPANY, Chicago Fire Department history, chicagoareafire.com, Chicagoareafire.com/blog, Evanston FD Chief George Beattie, Evanston Fire Department history, History of Evanston Fire Department, Phil Stenholm, Pioneer Fire Company of Evanston, Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1, Rust-Oleum Corporation fire in 1975
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