Archive for category Historic Fire Photo

Vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 1-28-65

Oct 19

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 3 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

This week I am sharing these images from a 5-11 alarm on January 28, 1965. This was an abandoned grain mill at 2203-09 South Lumber Street. For those who are familiar with this area, it is the present location of Ozinga concrete just south of Cermak along the Chicago River. The second image is of Engine 8 and the last image shows Engine 23. I can count 13 master streams flowing in image 4. Still time was reported as 4:47pm. Hope you enjoy.

historic massive fire in Chicago in 1965

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago on January 28, 1965. This was an abandoned grain mill at 2203-09 South Lumber Street. from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

CFD Engine 23. from the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

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Tags: 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago in 1965, Chicago Fire Department history, Eric Haak, historic 5-11 alarm fire in Chicago, historic image of Chicago FD Engine 23, historic image of Chicago FD Engine 8, multiple Snorkels with master streams at historic fire

Vintage 5-11 Alarm fire +1 special, 4-4-64

Oct 12

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic Fire Photo | 6 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

Here are some more images from the 5-11 +1 special at 3610-3620 South Iron Street. The fire was in the old Central Bag Manufacturing Company building which was being used at the time by the Purofied Down Products Company as a pillow factory. The fire occurred on April 4, 1964 with an initial still time of 11:00 am. The first image is a little closer look at the image I shared last week. I was wondering if anyone knew why the two firefighters on the roof of the 1-story were holding their arms up? Was that some type of signal used by the fellas back in those days? Thanks and enjoy.

vintage massive fire in Chicago with high pressure wagon

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Classic fire scene with Chicago FD Snorkel 2

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

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Tags: Central Bag Manufacturing Company fire, Chicago FD High Pressure Wagon, Chicago FD Snorkel 2, Chicago Fire Department history, Eric Haak, historic 5-11 alarm fire in Chicago, Purofied Down Products Company fire

Historic Chicago fire photos

Oct 5

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 1 Comment

This from Eric Haak:

This week I thought I would share one image from four different incidents. The first is a 5-11 at 29th and LaSalle Streets on 8/26/59. The building was going to be demolished for the construction of the Dan Ryan.

A 5-11 Alarm fire at 29th and LaSalle Streets on 8/26/59

A 5-11 at 29th and LaSalle Streets on 8/26/59. The building was going to be demolished for the construction of the Dan Ryan. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

The second is a 5-11 +1 Special at 3616 S. Iron on 4/4/64. A pillow manufacturer!

5-11 +1 Special at 3616 S. Iron on 4/4/64. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

The third is a 5-11 at 1816 S. Clark on 11/14/64 and was part of the infamous 72 Hour Alarm.

5-11 Alarm fire at 1816 S. Clark on 11/14/64. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

The final is a 3-11 at 4201 S. State on 8/2/66. Safe to say we will rarely ever see fires like these again. It was a different time

3-11 Alarm fire at 4201 S. State on 8/2/66. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

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Tags: 3-11 Alarm fire at 4201 S. State 8/2/66, 5-11 +1 Special fire at 3616 S. Iron on 4/4/64, 5-11 Alarm fire at 1816 S. Clark 11/14/64, 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, A 5-11 Alarm fire at 29th and LaSalle Streets on 8/26/59, Chicago FD's infamous 72 Hour Alarm, Chicago Fire Department historuh, Eric Haak, historic fire scene photos

Vintage 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 9-9-82

Sep 29

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic FD radio trafic, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 1 Comment

This from Steve Redick:

I opened the archives again. This fire was in a 4-11 in a huge, u-shaped apartment building at 3348 N. Central 9/9/82.

Some voices: call taker FAO George Mazurek; Kenny Little dispatching the units, and those with sharp ears will recognize Roger Thompson later in the incident.

I took this in and have a few images, some are a little iffy in terms of quality but worth a look. They brought the turret wagon into the courtyard but as I recall they didn’t use it. This was a tough and nasty job.

Steve

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire photo with Snorkel 2

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire photo with Snorkel 3

Steve Redick photo

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Tags: 4-11 alarm fire in Chicago 9/9/82, audio from historic fire, Chicago FD Snorkel 2, Chicago FD Snorkel 3, Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-3, Chicago Fire Department history, fire scene audio recording, George Mazurek, Kenny Little, Roger Thompson, Steve Redick, vintage recording of fire scene audio

Vintage 4-11 Alarm fire 1441 S Wabash, 8-11-83

Sep 27

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire scene audio, Historic FD radio trafic, Historic Fire Photo | No Comments

This from Steve Redick:

This was a real dandy. The Fire Alarm office calltaker and dispatcher was the late Dick Hyland. You can also hear Bob Phelan as well as Matt Tomlin briefly on the radio and Al Andersen was the switchboard guy that handled most of the radio stuff. I took this job in. What a night this was! The DDC was Ed Altman way before his commissioner days and the responding District Chief was Louis Galante (which explains why this wasn’t a 5-11). Some other voices you may find familiar Jim Corbett on truck 12, Bob Welch as “3a”, Bill O’Boyle on Squad 1.

I’m sure there are many more to be recognized upon further review. This fire turned into a real spectacle. It ignited a scrapyard at 14th & State that went to a box and it also burned up El ties along the tracks for about 2 blocks. To top it off Snorkel 1 got stuck in the partially raised position and members had to be rescued via ground ladder as the radiant heat was getting brutal. After the building collapsed they found a guy who was sleeping in a vehicle next to the fire building who had to be extricated with a hurst tool since the car was squashed by the falling wall.

I was standing too close at the time of the collapse and as I was running saw a member get knocked down by flying bricks. I believe he broke his leg … a narrow miss for me. This was a real all time classic job. I will never forget it.

Steve

Steve Redick photo

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Tags: 4-11 alarm fire in Chicago 8/11/83, audio recording of 4-11 alarm fire in Chicago, Bob Phelan, Chicago Fire Department history, Dick Hyland, Ed Altman, fire scene audio recording, fire scene photos, historic fire scene photos, Louis Galante, Matt Tomlin, Steve Redick, vintage recording of fire scene audio

Historic 5-11 Alarm fire with multiple LODD in Chicago, 2-7-68 (more)

Sep 21

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 7 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

The following are rare images of the Mickelberry fire on February 7, 1968. The first image is the only image I know that shows the building before the 3rd explosion which leveled the plant. If you can view this image in a larger format, you can clearly see the people waiting on the roof to be rescued. There is at least one truck parked in front without it’s aerial up and there appears to be a chief or two looking up at the men on the roof. There is also either a truck or engine arriving northbound on Halsted. Image 2 was badly scratched and still has quite a bit of damage. Image 3 shows the helicopter used by Chief Quinn to access the scene. Image 4 shows the gasoline truck in the alley after it had been cleared of rubble. Many of the other images are self-explanatory. The last is damage that occurred to one of the rigs on scene.

early photo of the Mickelberry fire in Chicago

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

click image for large download

Chicago FD Snorkels work during the Mickelberry fire

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

vintage Chciago Police Department helicopter

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

classic Chicago firefighters at work from SS1 and SS2

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard J. Quinn and Mayor Richard J. Daley

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

aftermath of Mickelberry fire in Chicago

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

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Tags: CAPTAIN JOHN J. FISCHER (BADGE # 1268) OF TRUCK CO. 18 BUILDING EXPLOSION 50TH & HALSTED MICKELBERRY FIRE, Chicago FD Captain John Fischer, Chicago Fire Department history, Chicago Firefighter Charles Bottger, Chicago Firefighter Edward Leifker, Chicago Firefighter Thomas Collins, FIREMAN CHARLES D. BOTTGER (BADGE # 163) OF TRUCK CO. 18 BUILDING EXPLOSION 50TH & HALSTED MICKELBERRY FIRE, FIREMAN EDWARD LEIFKER (BADGE # 1350) OF TRUCK CO. 18 BUILDING EXPLOSION 50TH & HALSTED MICKELBERRY FIRE, Mickelberry Food Products fire in Chicago 1968, Mickelberry Sausage Factory fire

Vintage Chicago 5-11 Alarm fire, 6-24-66

Sep 14

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 4 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

The following images were taken just after noon on June 24, 1966. The fire was in the Western Lumber Company yard at 2732 W. Madison Street and was a 5-11 +2 specials. One of the great things about these old images is that they show what many of these areas once looked like. The wider angle views show Madison looking west just before California. A few years later, this area would be decimated by the 1968 riots. The other nice thing about this series of images is that it shows the early attack in the first picture and then the Snorkels being brought in by the last picture. In that last picture, the building on the left with the Rocky’s Grill sign on it is just about the only building left standing today. Nearly every other building you see in these images are a thing of the past.

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

historic fire scene photo in Chicago with Fire Commissioner Robert J Quinn

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

historic fire scene photo in Chicago with wooden aerial ladder

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

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Tags: Chicago Fire Commissionner Robert J Quinn, Chicago Fire Department history, Eric Haak, historic fire photos from Chicago, vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago 6-24-66, Western Lumber Company fire in Chicago

Vintage radio traffic from Morton Grove, 1-25-89

Sep 8

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic FD radio trafic, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 5 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

Here is a radio traffic recording I made of a 2nd alarm fire at 5945 Dempster in Morton Grove. I believe this was on January 25, 1989. The battalion chief who had the fire was Norman Ruth. This was a real dandy and I was there just after the initial attack lines were laid. If you listen closely you can here all kinds of classic dispatching and RED Center radio traffic from the good old days. The fireground traffic is very telling if you listen closely as well. Old suburban traffic is hard to come by and is a very minute portion of my archive but this is a real classic.

The images can be seen here:

Steve

vintage Pierce fire trucks at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Niles FD Truck 2 Pirsch tractor-drawn aerial

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

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Tags: classic 2-alarm fire in Morton Grove, classic Pirsch tractor-drawn aerial, fireground radio traffic, Furniture Factory fire in Morton Grove, Glenview FD Truck 6, Morton Grove FD Squad 1, Morton Grove Fire Department, Niles FD Pirsch tiller, Niles FD Truck 2, Park Ridge FD Truck 45, Steve Redick, vintage recording of fire scene audio

Vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 6-26-91

Sep 7

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 2 Comments

This from Eric Haak:

This week’s blast from the past is a 5-11 from June 26, 1961. The address was 2600 S. State Street with the fire breaking out on the top floor of the 7-story, Douglas Hotel around 1:45 in the afternoon. The building at one time was a grand hotel from the 1890’s but had fallen in esteem, along with the neighborhood, and was functioning as an SRO with over 500 residents at the time of the fire. The first image is looking west across State. The last image is looking south down State Street and the Dearborn Homes housing project can be seen in the background. Three of the four Snorkels were used at this fire and two Jeep pressure rigs can be seen in the images. Enjoy!

Chicago FD Hi-Ranger Snorkels at historic fire

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

Chicago FD Hi-Ranger Snorkel at historic fire

From the collection of Eric Haak, photographer unknown

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Tags: Chicago FD Hi-Ranger Snorkel at historic fire, classic Chicago fire scene photos, Douglas Hotel fire in Chicago, Eric Haak, historic fire photos from Chicago, vintage 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago 6-21-61

Historic 3-11 Alarm for the plane crash in Chicago, 12-8-72

Aug 27

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic Fire Photo | 1 Comment

This from Eric Haak:

To piggyback on last week’s post, here are some very rare images from the more well known 1972 plane crash near Midway Airport. I don’t believe there needs to be too much background information given on this incident. CFD records have the still time as 2:29 in the afternoon of December 8, 1972 with the address being 3715-23 W. 70th Place. The response was held at a 3-11 alarm. These images show the recovery phase and were taken from a position that media outlets were obviously not allowed access. There were two fatalities on the ground along with 43 on-board the aircraft. Suprisingly, there were 18 survivors on the plane. There is video of this incident on Youtube but the clarity is pretty poor.

crash of United Airlines Flight 553 12/8/72

United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place, in Chicago, while approaching Midway Airport on Dec. 8, 1972, killing 43 of the 61 persons aboard, and two in a home. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown.