Posts Tagged fire department history

Historic CFD radio traffic: 3-11 Alarm Century Lumber 6-6-78

This from Steve Redick; Century Lumber fire at Diversey and Clybourn, June 6, 1978 went to a 3-11:

Here’s a real blast from the past. I recorded this using a plain old cassette recorder and microphone held up to the scanner speaker while I was living at my grandparent’s house. It has held up pretty well over the years. I recognize Art Benker on the main radio at the start of the fire, and the Division Marshal was Joe Brichetto, my dad’s boss when he was in the 10th battalion. You can hear the water task force and the fireboat as well as some talk about Big John and Little John … ahhh those were the days …

Steve

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Prospect Heights Fire Department history

Bill Friedrich recently added the image below to his collection, and he asked Drew Smith for assistance in dating the photo.

Prospects Fire Department history

Here is the historical information that Drew provided.

I’ve confirmed the photo is from 1963

A few comments:

  • When the station was first built a neon sign of FIRE DEPARTMENT was installed above the overhead door. Later that sign was replaced with red letters PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT.  The photo Bill obtained has the new lettering installed. Also, the paint store sign to the left indicates this is a later photo as that paint store existed until the new Walgreens was built. I have photos showing this newer red PHFD lettering with a different occupancy in the paint store’s location. Also when the station was first built there wasn’t a curb between the road and the  apron. It was a gravel transition.
  • Below you can see the years and details of these three pieces.

Year

Type

Signature(s)

Make/Mfr.

Pump GPM

Tank

Other

47

Pumper

#3

173

Ford/Darley

750

500

Purchased new

48

Car

#4

174

Ford

“Pie wagon”

57

Car

?

Ford

Red & white wagon used by fire chief
  • The station wagon was the chiefs car and it would have been used by the first two. There have only been four chiefs in the history of the PHFD:

Fran Foor (1944-1962) *Served as president of IL Fire Chiefs Assn. in 1954

William Andrew (1962-1969)

Donald Gould, Sr. (1969-1988)

Donald Gould, Jr. (1988-present)

  • I’m going to say this photo was taken in 1963 based on the license plates. According to this webpage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Illinois , in 1963 license plates were dark green with gold letters.  This is how the plates appear to me.
  • This red and white 57 Ford was replaced in 1966 with a Chevrolet Impala station wagon.
  • Between 1964 and 1968 the PHFD purchased three new pieces:

Year

Type

Signature(s)

Make/Mfr.

Pump GPM

Tank

Other

64

Squad

#5

175

Squad 9

909

Chevy

Utility body truckBreathing air cascadeGenerator

66

Pumper

#2

172

Engine 9R

Ford/Darley

750

1000

Twin high-pressure booster reels

68

Tanker

#6

174

Tanker 9

Ford/Darley

750

1500

  • The 47 Ford Darley pumper remained until sometime in the 1970s. In 1973 the department purchased a new Dodge station wagon for the chief, a Ward LaFrance pumper, and it’s first ambulance built on a Dodge van.

 

I have attached a few photos:

Prospect Heights FD 1957 chief's car

  • This appears to be the 57 Ford when it was new. The red license plate with white letters is from 1957.

Prospect Heights FD 1948 Ford van

  • This is the 48 Ford “pie wagon” (that’s what it was referred to by every old-timer when I joined even though it was long gone) It has been restored by someone in the NW Suburbs (no contact info available).

Drew Smith

Deputy Chief

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District

10 East Camp McDonald Road

Prospect Heights, IL 60070

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Chicago Fire Department: Truck Companies over the years. Part 3

Another set of Squad546 images from Martin Nowak:

More on the Truck companies over the years at CFD. Thanks to Squad546 for allowing me to post these.

Former Tower Ladder 10 -1985 Federal-E-One 95′
Former Truck 4, 1970 Seagrave (refurbished in 1991) headed out on a still alarm.
Truck 18 – 1995 Seagrave 100′ 
Former Truck 20 – 1969 Seagrave before removal of the booster pump & line.
Former Truck 35 – 1967 FWD/Seagrave, formerly Truck 9.
Former Truck 52’s 1975 Seagrave 100′ in the early 1980s
Chicago FD Tower Ladder 10

Former Tower Ladder 10 -1985 Federal-E-One 95′. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 4 Seagrave aerial

Former Truck 4, 1970 Seagrave (refurbished in 1991) headed out on a still alarm. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 18 Seagrave aerial

Truck 18 – 1995 Seagrave 100′ . photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 20 Seagrave aerial

Former Truck 20 – 1969 Seagrave before removal of the booster pump & line. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 35 FWD Seagrave aerial

Former Truck 35 – 1967 FWD/Seagrave, formerly Truck 9. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 52 Seagrave aerial

Former Truck 52’s 1975 Seagrave 100′ in the early 1980s. photo by Squad546

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Chicago Fire Department: Truck Companies over the years. Part 2

More from Martin Nowak:

More on the Truck companies over the years at CFD. Thanks to Squad546 for allowing me to post these.

Former Truck 1’s old Hendrickson/Pierce/Morita 135′, after having the “elevator” removed.
Former Truck 5 – 1972 Mack/Pirsch.
Former Truck 12 – 1982 Hendrickson/E-One 100′
Former Truck 16’s 1978 Seagrave 100′
Former Truck 19 – 1988 E-One/Federal 110′
Former Truck 24’s 1970 Seagrave, refurbished in 1990
Former Truck 42 1982 E-One/Hendrickson
Chicago Truck 1 Hendrickson Pierce Morita

Former Truck 1’s old Hendrickson/Pierce/Morita 135′, after having the “elevator” removed. photo by Squad546

Chicago Truck 5 Mack CF Pirsch

Former Truck 5 – 1972 Mack/Pirsch. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 12 Hendrickson E-ONE

Former Truck 12 – 1982 Hendrickson/E-One 100′. photo by Squad546

Chicago Truck 16 Seagrave rear-mount aerial

Former Truck 16’s 1978 Seagrave 100′. photo by Squad546

Chicago Truck 19 E-ONE aerial

Former Truck 19 – 1988 E-One/Federal 110′. photo by Squad546

Chicago Truck 24 Seagrave rear-mount aerial

Former Truck 24’s 1970 Seagrave, refurbished in 1990. photo by Squad546

Chicago FD Truck 42 Hendrickson E-ONE

Former Truck 42 1982 E-One/Hendrickson. photo by Squad546

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Chicago Fire Department: Truck Companies over the years. Part 1

This from Martin Nowak:

I’ve talked with Squad546, who has allowed me to submit these pictures. I’ll have several posts within the next few months. For now I’d like to show some CFD truck companies over the years.

Former Tower Ladder 5 – 1988 Federal/E-One 95′
Former Tower Ladder 14 -1996 HME/LTI 102′
Former Truck (Aerial Tower) 1 – 1988 Federal/E-One 135′
Former Truck 2 – 1988 Federal/E-One 110′
Former Truck 33 – 1993 Seagrave 100′
Former Truck 34 – 1970 Ward LaFrance Grove 100′
Former Truck 62, then Truck 8 after the 1994 rehab. Pictured as a spare. 1978 Seagrave 100′
Chicago FD E-ONE tower ladder

Former Tower Ladder 5 – 1988 Federal/E-One 95′. Squad546 photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 14 HME LTI

Former Tower Ladder 14 -1996 HME/LTI 102′. Squad546 photo

Chicago Fire Department 135' aerial ladder Truck 1

Former Truck (Aerial Tower) 1 – 1988 Federal/E-One 135′. Squad546 photo

Chicago Fire Department 100' aerial ladder Truck 2 E-ONE

Former Truck 2 – 1988 Federal/E-One 110′. Squad546 photo

Chicago FD ladder truck Seagrave

Former Truck 33 – 1993 Seagrave 100′. Squad546 photo

Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Grove ladder truck

Former Truck 34 – 1970 Ward LaFrance Grove 100′. Squad 546 photo

 

Chicago FD Seagrave ladder truck

Former Truck 62, then Truck 8 after the 1994 rehab. Pictured as a spare. 1978 Seagrave 100′. Squad546 photo

 

 

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon History (pt7)

More on the history of turret wagons in the Chicago Fire Department.

This from Steve Redick

I was surfing through my collection..kinda bored cause I haven’t shot any fire photos in a while. I found this shot and thought I would share it because it’s relevant to our recent turret wagon photos. I am not sure of the source of this photo..might be a CFD negative..I do know it is not one I took. A few interesting things to see…truck 2 is using an old Mack magirus and you can see how they had to use a ground ladder to ascend to the main ladder…really gotta wonder what the designers were thinking there…and ya gotta wonder even more why the heck did CFD buy these??!!!!??? Prominently in the photo is the original “Big Mo”..turret wagon with lots of lines hooked up and sporting the CD paint job of white over blue. This thing changed paint schemes like a chameleon changes colors.The other detail I could pick out was what I remember as snorkel 4…it had a stripping ladder mounted on the boom, easily accessible from the basket. Snorkels weren’t just elevated master streams..before tower ladders they did lots of regular truck work too. The fire is downtown somewhere and I estimate the time frame as the mid 70s..anyone recognize this location??
This stuff is way cool…any comments will be shared!!
Steve

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon Big Mo

Turret Wagon Big Mo at work at a large fire in Chicago. Photographer unknown.

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt6)

More history on the Chicago FD turret wagons – image submissions from Steve Redick … including a great shot of Big John inside Engine 42’s house.

 

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon 6-7-3

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon 6-7-3. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon 6-7-3

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon 6-7-3. Steve Redick photo

 

Steve also found this image of Big John

 

Chicago Fire Department Big John

Chicago Fire Department Big John 6-7-3. Tim Vermande photo

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt5)

More images of the Chicago Fire Department turret wagons working. These images from Chief Gordon J. Nord, Jr. of the most recent deployment of the inservice/out of service large turret wagon 6-7-1 working at the ruins of the 5-11 & 2 Specials on South Ashland Avenue in January.

 

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago FD turret wagon 671 working at fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt4)

This from Scott Peterson:

Found this from my “old negative” pictures. Dec 1, 1998 the Pullman Factory fire, 6-7-1 working the rear. I believe the chief at the driver’s side rear of 6-7-1 is Garetti.

 

Pullman factory fire in Chicago December 1998

6-7-1 at work in the rear at the the Pullman Facorty fire in Deember of 1998. Scott Peterson photo

 

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Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt3)

These images from Larry Shapiro.

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-1 working in the rear at a 5-11 Alarm fire in June of 1985 on Clinton. Larry Shapiro photo

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-1 working in the rear at a 5-11 Alarm fire in June of 1985 on Clinton. Larry Shapiro photo

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-1 working in the rear at a 5-11 Alarm fire in June of 1985 on Clinton. Larry Shapiro photo

Another shot of CFD 6-7-1 working in the rear at the 5-11 in June of 1985 on Clinton. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon deluge wagon

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-1 was built on a 1975 Mack MB600 chassis seen here while assigned with Engine 23. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon deluge wagon

This unit was assigned as 6-7-1 while housed with Engine 42 along with the larger 6-7-5. 6-7-1 was built on a 1975 Chevy Scottsdale chassis. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon deluge wagon

6-7-4 was also built on a 1975 Chevy Scottsdale chassis. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department turret wagon deluge wagon

CFD Turret Wagon 6-7-5 was built on a 1975 Mack MB600 chassis seen here while assigned with Engine 42. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 alarm fire

6-7-6 went to work with both turrets at the 5-11 ruins on W. Nelson in September of 2012 in an apparent attempt to facilitate the collapse of the building walls. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 alarm fire

6-7-6, the southside turret wagon, was called to the 5-11 on W. Nelson last September since the northside turret wagon was out of service. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 alarm fire

Both guns flowing water at the 5-11 Alarm fire on September 30, 2012 at 2612-18 W. Nelson. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 3-11 alarm fire

Prior to the recent warehouse fire on Ashland Avenue, this was possibly the last time that 6-7-1 was at a fire scene. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 3-11 alarm fire

Closeup of the intakes for 6-7-1. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 3-11 alarm fire

6-7-1 after working at a 3-11 alarm fire at 1300 W. Exchange on January 9, 2007. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 3-11 alarm fire

6-7-1, which carries shop #G366, leaving the 3-11 on Exchange in 2007. Larry Shapiro photo

 

Previous posts in this series on Chicago FD turret wagons are HERE and HERE.

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