Posts Tagged fire department history

Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt2)

These images are by Chief Gordon J. Nord, Jr.

Turret Wagon 6-7-1

 

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-5

CFD Turret Wagon 6-5-7 later became 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-1

This picture of 671 was at 1441 S. Wabash and it was baked black as a result of the smoke conditions. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

 

Turret Wagon 6-7-3

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-3. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Turret Wagon 6-7-4

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 674

This picture of 674 was at a 5-11 on Grand and Austin. This unit was destroyed one night later at a 5-11 and 5 specials at 37th and Iron Street when a wall fell on it. This was never replaced as far as I know. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Turret Wagon 6-7-5

 

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-5

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-5. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Turret Wagon 6-7-6

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6

Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagon 6-7-6. Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

 

Can anyone identify the fire scenes shown in these photos?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago FD Turret Wagon history (pt1)

This from Steve Redick:

So I was talking with some fellow fire fans and we were discussing when we had seen 671 at work prior to it’s resurrection for the latest 5-11. I trolled through my archives and found these images..taken at a 5-11 & 2 Specials 2232 S Grove st. April 14 1989. This fire involved a huge amount of tires in the old Cuneo Press complex, and 1 of these buildings was used in the final fire in the movie backdraft. One shot shows a real rarity, 2 turret wagons working. LDH was in limited use at this fire … still kinda new to us. The next day was the famous art gallery 5-11 … what a coupla days this was!!!!

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 fire scene

Turret Wagon 6-7-1 working at a 5-11 Alarm fire on April 14, 1989. Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 fire scene

Two turret wagons working at a 5-11 Alarm fire on April 14, 1989. Steve Redick photo

Chicago FD turret wagon at 5-11 fire scene

Turret Wagon 6-7-1 working at a 5-11 Alarm fire on April 14, 1989. Steve Redick photo

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Vintage CFD Fire Photos

More from Steve Redick:

Thanks to Bill Friedrich for sharing these…

A water tower buried in ice and debris at the Hubbard St fire

A great shot of squad 4 at 83’s house on Gunnison … building still stands

An extra alarm that I think may have been around Cermak and Western 4/7/57

This stuff is cool!!
Steve

fire scene covered with ice

Chicago Fire Department Squad 4

historic Lincoln Building fire in CHicago 1957

 

 

A coupla more from Bill Friedrich
8/1/58  4-11 4100 S Racine Swift & Company  A nice shot of an FWD truck, Autocar Squad and a really nice looking Caddy Ambo
Can’t really find any info on the one labeled Catholic Storage Bureau…maybe on South Chicago Ave??  2 snorkels can be seen working if you look closely
Cool Stuff For Sure!!
Steve
historic Chicago fire photo Swift & Company
historic Chicago fire photo Catholic Salvage Bureau

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Vintage CFD Fire Photos

This from Steve Redick:

3 photos … sent by Bill Friedrich from his archive. 54 E Hubbard,  January 1958.  A Mack Bulldog pressure wagon at work
A nice shot of 109’s old joint back in the horse drawn era … amazed at how big the house looks. When you see it today it seems kinda old and small…at least to me.
A 3-11 at about 61 and Dorchester … no real particulars other than that. did ya notice the pompier ladder on the side of what I think is an FWD truck? I bet the truck with its aerial up was horsedrawn at one time judging by the rickety look to the rear end.
Feel free to add any thoughts or info..
Hubbard Street fire 1958 historic Chicago fire photo
Chicago Fire Station horse-drawn steamer circa 1920
historic fire in Chicago during 1957 at 61st and Dorchester 3-11 alarm fire

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Fire Department History

This is the first of what we hope are several posts from Andrew McCullough:

These were taken by my father John McCullough in the 60s.  He was a Chicago fireman for many years. He passed away a few years ago, and I’ve started scanning some of his old slides.  All of these were taken by John McCullough or someone else in the house that he handed the camera to.  This group is from 1969 and early 70s.

Best,
Andrew

 

Chicago Fire Department Hook & Ladder 31

Chicago Fire Department Hook & Ladder 31. John McCullough photo

Buff the firedog at Chicago Engine 5’s quarters

Buff the firedog at Chicago Engine 5’s quarters. John McCullough photo

John McCullough and Chicago Engine 5

John McCullough and Chicago Engine 5. Andrew McCullough collection

Chicago Engine 5.  1969 Seagrave

Chicago Engine 5. 1969 Seagrave. John McCullough photo

Chicago Engine 5 and crew

Chicago Engine 5 and crew. Andrew McCullough collection

Buff the firedog in Deputy Chief’s car (217) and helmut.

Buff the firedog in Deputy Chief’s car (217) and helmut. John McCullough photo

Chicago Engine 5 at quarters.

Chicago Engine 5 at quarters. John McCullough photo

Chicago Engine 5 and crew

Chicago Engine 5 and crew. Andrew McCullough collection

Chicago Engine 5 at quarters.

Chicago Engine 5 at quarters. John McCullough photo

Chicago Squad 2 at Engine 5’s quarters

Chicago Squad 2 at Engine 5’s quarters. John McCullough photo

Still Alarm, 700 W Jackson, Chicago Illinois, April 1967

Still Alarm, 700 W Jackson, Chicago Illinois, April 1967 John McCullough photo

Chicago Engine 5’s kitchen

Chicago Engine 5’s kitchen. John McCullough photo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vintage CFD fire apparatus photo

From the collection of Bill Friedrich:

CFD Engine 13, 209 N Dearborn, 1953 FWD  1000-gpm, Shop #D-268.  Assigned Feb.23, 1954.
Chicago Fire Department vintage apparatus photo historic photo FWD engine

Engine 13 shown here was on a 1953 FWD conventional chassis with a 1,000-GPM pump and no water tank. Bill Friedrich collection

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 3)

____________________________________________

The following is the third of a 3-part series from Dave Weaver, organizer of the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show  www.EmergencyVehicleShow.com

____________________________________________
Details about the Engine 17 rig developments are being discussed on the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show Facebook page. Interested potential buyers can send a private message to Facebook.com/ChicagolandEmergencyVehicleShow or to the comments section of this post.
Chicago Fire Department engine from the movie Backdraft

CFD Engine 69 with numbering for both Backdraft Engines 17 and 51. Tom McCarthy photo

Where they went…
  • 80-287/D-372 E126 – rehabbed to E122 – Crushed in Blue Island in 1994
  • 80-288/D-373 E73 – to E103 4/2/81 – (not rehabbed) – Crushed at Cicero Iron in 1984
  • 80-289/D-374 E8 – rehabbed to E17/51/69 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts 8/28/96
  • 80-290/D-375 E106 – rehabbed to E113 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts 9/4/96
  • 80-291/D-376 E22 – rehabbed to E46 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts 9/9/96 (crushed)
  • 80-292/D-377 E113 – this rig then saw a lot of action as a Shop’s spare at T61, O’Hare, E34, E19, E109, and E72 – rehabbed to E14 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts 8/29/96
  • 80-293/D-378 E49 – rehabbed to E34 – Sold to a private party – Sold to PA FD
Chicago FD engine used in the movie Backdraft

Engine 17 on 4-4-2004.

E17’s current condition…
  • The owner estimates that 75% of the rig is there with 20% of the parts needing to be purchased and 5% of the parts needing fabrication.
  • It has a complete Cummins NTF 365 Turbo-Diesel (365hp @ 2300 rpm).
  • It is missing an Allison HT70 6-speed overdrive transmission.
  • It is missing $1,100 worth of copper radiator cores – originally Mesabi radiator of MN
  • It has a Hale Q-2 2,000-GPM pump that is non-functional, but comes with a replacement PTO gear box, some pump valves and pump gauges stripped from E14 that can be rebuilt by SPAN gauges in WI with period correct backings for $30/ea. and a new pump gasket set from Hale.
  • It has a 500-gallon water tank and a 140-gallon foam tank that was added during the refurb.
  • It has a 50-gallon diesel tank.
  • It is 35′ long with a 178” wheelbase.
  • The original grille was stripped from the rig but replaced by a top-notch reproduction.
  • It has its’ original deck gun.
  • It needs diamond plate and steel work but comes with the refurb blueprints from E-ONE.
  • It has original Imron paint but could be repainted with a close matching 68-69 Dodge red.
  • It includes 500 feet of 5-inch LDH.
  • It includes functional lights, sirens, horns, and a period correct Motorola radio.
    Chicago FD engine from the movie Backdraft

    Engine 17 photographed 9-15-2012.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 2)

____________________________________________

The following is the second of a 3-part series from Dave Weaver, organizer of the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show  www.EmergencyVehicleShow.com

____________________________________________
In 1990, X-Engine 8 (D-374) along with its sister rig X-Engine 106 (D-375), were part of the 2nd set of rigs sent to be rehabbed. They were the last two rigs to come back in June of 1990. D-374 and D-375 were both leased to the production company that created the movie Backdraft. D-374 was marked as Engine 17 from 7/90-2/91 and as Engine 51 from 10/90-2/91 (the rig whose hose bed saw “action” inside Engine 8’s house). During filming, the Engine 17 interior shots and the majority of the exterior shots were done using X-Engine 8. X-Engine 106 was also marked as Engine 17 during certain scenes. A way to tell the difference is that Engine 8’s interior had diamond plate and was painted gloss black, while Engine 106 had a flat black interior with no diamond plate. Another difference is that X-Engine 106’s siren speaker was mounted higher up in front of the windshield glass.
CFD engine from the movide Backdraft

The cab interior.

When filming was completed, D-374 was assigned to Engine 69 at 4017 N. Tripp Ave. Engine 69 was responsible for pumping out the basement of City Hall during the Great Flood of 1992.  It was part of Chicago’s short-lived super-pumper program, which carried four hard suction lines and 1000′ of 5″ LDH. Its’ 140-gallon foam tank was installed with expressway responses in mind. Engine 69 was taken out of service on 6/13/95. Engine 69’s transmission/PTO box was removed in order to keep Engine 34 in service after they blew out their gears while driving. On 8/28/96, Engine 69 was sold at auction and purchased by Erickson Trucks-n-Parts.  It was first shipped to their yard in Sturtevant, WI and it eventually arrived in their Jackson, MN bone yard in 1997. It was discovered there by its current owner in 1999. He eventually purchased it in 2003 and began its restoration.
CFD Engine from the movie Backdraft

Backdraft Engine 17 on the day it was purchased.

After filming, X-Engine 106 (D-375) was assigned to Engine 113. It also eventually was sold at auction to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts and made its way to the Jackson, MN bone yard to sit alongside Engine 69. Engine 113 is currently in the hands of a friend of Engine 69’s current owner, but it is in very rough shape and might possibly end up as a parts rig for the Engine 17 project. Engine 14 (X-E113) also ended up in Jackson, MN. It was completely stripped of salvageable parts, had its cab chopped off, and then shredded.
CFD engine from the movie Backdraft

December 20, 2003.

Engine 34 (X-Engine 49), which never saw time in Backdraft, was made into an Engine 17 clone before being sold in 1999 or 2000 to the East Norwegian Twp. PA FD where, until recently, it had been incorrectly touted as authentic. That rig was spotted for sale online stripped of it markings a couple of years ago and its current whereabouts are unknown.
CFD engine from the movie Backdraft.

Rear jump seat behind the officer.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 1)

____________________________________________

The following is the first of a 3-part series from Dave Weaver, organizer of the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show  www.EmergencyVehicleShow.com

____________________________________________
Chicago Fire Department Engine 17 on the set of the movie Backdraft

Chicago Fire Department Engine 17 on the set of the movie Backdraft. (X-Engine 69).

Engine 17 from the movie ‘Backdraft’ is for sale. A private collector in Minnesota has decided to let his project go for $6,000 with the condition that it receives a Chicago homecoming in the hands of the individual or group that is most capable of completing the restoration, and willing to make the rig available for parades and shows such as the Chicago Fire Academy Muster and the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show. As of 9/19, there are several potential buyers who have offered to take on the project, but nothing is finalized yet.
 During the course of researching the history of this rig I have put together some notes…
Chicago purchased seven, 1970 Ward LaFrance engines on the P80 Ambassador chassis. These carried WLF VIN#s 80-287 to 80-293. They were shipped from Elmira Heights, NY on 6/30/70, and arrived at the CFD shops on 7/2/70 to begin prepping for assignment.
1970 Ward LaFrance Ambassador pumper assigned to Chicago Fire Department Engine 8

Steve Redick photo

 The engine with VIN# 80-289 was given CFD shop #D-374. It was originally marked as Engine 103 and delivered for service on 12/8/70, but the doorway was too narrow for the massive engine to pass through it without folding back the mirrors. It was reassigned to Engine 8 the next day at 212 W. Cermak Rd. in Chinatown, where it served until 1982.  It went to the CFD Shops for rehabbing from 9/2/80 until Feb 1981. In 1982, D-374 became a Shop’s spare.
 In 1989, the CFD sent the first set of 1970 WLFs to be rehabbed. They were sent to Able Fire Equipment Co., an Emergency-One dealer, in Frankfort. (Able later became Mid-America Truck in Elmhurst) The front of the engines received a Ranger cab manufactured in Rhode Island (now out of business). The back half was a classic E-ONE job.
Chicago Fire Department Engine 69

CFD Engine 69 after the rehab in 1995.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vintage CFD fire photos

More from the collection of Bill Friedrich

Historic Chicago 3-11 Alarm fire on 64th Street

Bill Friedrich collection

Historic Chicago fire photo from 1982

Bill Friedrich photo

Historic Chicago fire photo featuring Snorkel

Bill Friedrich photo

Tags: , , , , , , , ,