This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT-This is the Blue Island Fire Dept.’s Eng. 2103, a 1994 Sutphen 1500/750. This engine is still owned and is in reserve. The second and third pictures featured are courtesy of the Blue Island Firefighters 3547 facebook page. Thank you. Enjoy and comment.Mike Summa
Mike Summa photo
Blue Island FD photo
Blue Island FD photo
This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT-Blue Island Eng. 2143, a 1973 ALF 1000/500. On Western Ave. at a extra alarm fire.Mike Summa
Mike Summa photo
This from Mike Summa:
TBT-Not an apparatus photo, but a question for fire buffs? Two Blue Island firemen posed in front of their station. What is that pump behind them? Air or Gas?Mike Summa
source unknown
This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT-Two views of the BIFD. The first taken in October 1907. Looking west on Vermont St. in front of the fire station. The second taken in 1976 looking east. Photos courtesy of Blue Island Historical Society.Mike Summa
From the Blue Island Historical Society
From the Blue Island Historical Society
This from Mike Summa:
For #TBT. Fire at the Lyric Theater in Blue Island, February 14th, 1960. Sunday afternoon matinee filled with children watching a movie. The building was evacuated and the only loss was the building. Today, this would have been a box alarm with multiple companies attending and change of quarters. Back then it was handled solely by Blue Island. How times have changed. Photos courtesy Blue Island Historical Society.Mike Summa
Fire at the Lyric Theater in Blue Island, February 14th, 1960. From the Blue Island Historical Society
Fire at the Lyric Theater in Blue Island, February 14th, 1960. From the Blue Island Historical Society
Fire at the Lyric Theater in Blue Island, February 14th, 1960. From the Blue Island Historical Society
This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For TBT-Blue Island Engine 3, a 1952 American LaFrance 1000/300. I took this picture at Station 2 on Division St. where it was assigned from when the station was built till 1973.
Mike Summa
Blue Island Engine 3 – 1952 American LaFrance 1000/300. Mike Summa photo
The Blue Island Fire Department Museum was conceived by Blue Islander Joe Dinovo and is being supported by the City of Blue Island, the family of Matthew O’Callaghan, BIHS, and a number of other volunteers and donors. Its purpose will be to educate the public on the history of our fire department and on fire safety and prevention, and it will house one of the coolest artifacts we’ve seen anywhere – Old Bess, a 1925 Seagrave fire engine that was purchased brand-new by the city of Blue Island. The rendering you see below was created by Blue Island’s Ken Jellema, who’s also lent his services to our other project. It’s likely that this design will change slightly before this building’s construction, but, we’re so excited about the progress so far!
These projects are going to take years to complete, but with the support we’re used to in this community, we believe that it’s only a matter of time until you see them come to fruition.
To support these initiatives and more, become a member of the Blue Island Historical Society:
Rendering by Ken Jellema
Blue Island Historical Society photo
This from Mike Summa:
Here is a photo of Blue Island E2153, a 1971 American LaFrance 1500/500 purchased from Oak Park in 1990. Shown here out of service at the 2006 Posen Fire Muster. Enjoy and comment.Mike Summa
Blue Island FD Engine 2153 – 1971 American LaFrance 1500/500. Mike Summa photo
This from Mike Summa:
It’s Thursday, here is an old picture of Blue Island’s first motorized firetruck. Competition was just as important back then as today. With the city council divided on which company was better, Seagrave or American LaFrance. Please enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
Blue Island’s first motorized firetruck
click on the photo for a larger file
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
