Posts Tagged historic Chicago fire scene

Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974 (more)

May 5

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

This follow up from Steve Redick relates to a rent post Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974:

I sent this out a while back and just got some additional info to share. Old time fan Chuck Bleck was working in the insurance industry at the time and prepared an extensive diagram of the fire and was kind enough to share it. Chuck also sent a copy of the report in Turnout magazine from the fire as well as some other good old CFD info.

Warren Redick photo

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

map by Chuck Bleck

** a note to our younger readers who might be wondering about the odd looking type of the two summaries above … they were created with a typewriter

Tags: Chicago FD Big John, Chicago FD history, Chuck Bleck, historic Chicago fire scene, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick, Ward LaFrance P80 engines in Chicago, Warren Redick

Chicago Fire Department History

Apr 14

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 10 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

Some great old stuff from dad’s collection.

A Mack bulldog pressure wagon at a 5-11 500 S Peoria 1/21/49

Chicago FD Mack Bulldog pressure wagon at massive fire in 1049

Warren Redick collection

5-11 62 & Halsted 12-30-52

Warren Redick collection

Engine 46 – 1919 Ahrens Fox

Chicago Engine 46 – 1919 Ahrens Fox. Warren Redick collection

2 – 1938 Pirsch Sedan pumpers

Warren Redick collection

1954 Mack delivery photo

Warren Redick collection

Eng 45 1916 Ahrens Fox

Warren Redick collection

These are just really some great shots. Enjoy

Steve

Tags: 1916 Ahrens Fox fire engine, 1938 Pirsch sedan pumper, Chicago Fire Department history, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire scene photos, historic fire truck photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Mack Bulldog pressure wagon in Chicago, Mack CF engine, Steve Redick, Warren Redick

Historic fire scene photos from 1950

Mar 17

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

This from Eric Haak:

These images were taken around 1950 by an aspiring photographer whose last name was Augustyn but I do not have a first name.

The fire was on the Northeast corner of Diversey and Pulaski on the same lot as the Walgreens that is next to Engine 91’s house. The fire was in the Rainbo Lanes Bowling Alley. The truck closest to the building is Truck 35 and the one with its aerial up looks like Truck 13 although it is hard to read. The Water Tower is #2. Hope you enjoy them.

vintage photo of Chicago firemen at work

photo by Augustyn

Rainbo Bowling Alley fire in Chicago circa 1959. photo by Augustyn

photo by Augustyn

antique fire trucks at 1950s era Chicago fire scene

photo by Augustyn

water tower at work during 1950s era fire in Chicago

photo by Augustyn

Tags: Chicago Fire Department history, fire scene photos from 1950, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire in Chicago, historic fire scene photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Rainbo Bowling Alley fire

Grain Elevator Conflagration of 1939 (final)

Mar 4

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

Grain elevator conflagration of 1939 (more)

Feb 27

Posted by Admin in Collectors of fire memorabilia, Fire Department History, Historic Fire Photo | 2 Comments

Grain Elevator Conflagration of 1939

Feb 26

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic Fire Photo | 11 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

Recently I shared a brochure from Ahrens Fox. In it was a photo from the big grain elevator conflagration in 1939. I have shared two more press photos and part 1 of the Underwriters report on the fire. This is very cool stuff if you take the time to read through it. This was an amazing fire, and a classic big city response. It’s worth a good look … more to follow …

historic Chicago fire scene with fire boats

Report on the Conflagration in Grain Elevators May 11 1939 in Chicago by the Chicago Board of Underwriters

Tags: Chicago Board of Underwriters of Chicago report on the Conflagration of Grain Elevators May 11 1939, Grain Elevator Conflagration of 1939, historic Chicago fire scene, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick

Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974

Feb 12

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Scene photos | 15 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

I returned from Arkansas with a lot of my dad’s collection. One of the things he had displayed on his wall was a series of 3 x 5 color prints from a 5-11 he and I were at in 1974. This was a cold storage warehouse and I recall it burned for days. I also remember at some point the building collapsed onto an adjacent structure causing the transmission of another extra alarm. We took it in well after the initial alarm and toured the fireground getting these shots of some classic rigs in action. The image with Big John in the background is probably one of the few images you will see with both guns working. Most times they couldn’t muster up the water supply to use both. Also note the 2000-GPM LaFrances often used both ports on the hydrant. They had an order that no other pumper was to share a hydrant with a 2,000-gallon rig, thus giving them the ability to use both steamer ports.

These photos were in horrendous condition … colors way off and faded. I was surprised at how much of the damaged images I was able to restore. They are far from perfect but at least they are now useable. I bet if I made them B&W they would be near perfect. Enjoy the history.

Steve

vintage Ward LaFrance fire engine in Chicago and Big John

Warren Redick photo

Warren Redick photo

vintage American LaFrance fire engine in Chicago

Warren Redick photo

vintage Ward LaFrance fire engine in Chicago

Warren Redick photo

Warren Redick photo

vintage Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder in Chicago

Warren Redick photo

Tags: Chicago FD history, historic Chicago fire scene, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick, Ward LaFrance P80 engines in Chicago, Warren Redick

Historic Chicago fire scene

Dec 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 11 Comments

This from Paul Fredericks:

Hello-

My father, Fred Fredericks, was a Chicago firefighter from the late 1950s until his retirement in 1986. He was stationed at 10 W. Hubbard, 81st and Ashland, and Midway Airport. He passed away this fall, and my siblings and I found the attached picture while going through his belongings.

This picture shows my father putting water on a fire, in the winter of a year in the late 50s or early 60s, we believe.

We thought that visitors to your blog might find it interesting, and might possibly remember some specifics about this fire.

Thank you for your interest.

-Paul Fredericks, Plainfield, IL

vintage Chicago fire scene with firefighter

Chicago firefighter Fred Fredericks at a winter fire scene circa 1955. From the collection of his family.

Tags: Fred Fredericks, historic Chicago fire scene, Paul Fredericks

Historic fire photo

Nov 13

Posted by Admin in Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 6 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

Here’s a classic old CFD image. Back in the early 70’s the late fire service author Paul Ditzel was authoring a new book on the history of firefighting. He spent several days with the CFD photo unit going over images to use. I was one lucky firefan because besides spending time with him in the photo unit I got to keep most of the photos that were printed up for the book. This is one of them. No location or date info on it, but Snorkel 5 is the rig we see with the boom up, another Snorkel is either moving or setting up … can’t tell who though … and those with really sharp eyes can make out a big gun working either from a squad or most likely a pressure wagon. A great photo to have in my collection and to share with you.

Can someone come up with any info on this fire?

Steve

photographer unknown

Tags: historic Chicago fire scene, Steve Redick, vintage Chicago fire scene photo

3-11 fire in Chicago at 111 W. Division, January 26, 1986

Sep 22

Posted by Admin in Fire Scene photos, Historic Fire Photo | 10 Comments

This from John Tulipano:

I went digging through my files after Steve posted an image from this fire. The fire was well under control when I arrived, companies had begun to pick up lines.

I apologize for composition and overall quality of these images I was just getting into photography.