Posts Tagged old Chicago fire apparatus

CFD Apparatus History – Ward LaFrance (1969)

Chicago received two Ward LaFrance engines in 1969. Both Model P80 units had 1,000-GPM pumps and 500-gallon water tanks. One was assigned to Engine 45 (D-347) and the other to Engine 83 (D-358). Engine 83’s unit was later assigned as a spare R-2.

Chicago Fire Department 1969 Ward LaFrance Model P80 Ambassador engine 83

Chicago Engine 83 was assigned a 1969 Ward LaFrance Model P80 engine with an Ambassador cab. One of only two units built in 1969 for the city. Jack Connors photo

This engine featured a cab that was similar to the 1,000-GPM engine purchased in 1967 without the extended bumper, and no floodlights were on this series. Unlike the 1967 unit though, these  had a bell mounted under the officer’s windshield and a siren in the center of the cab’s face.

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CFD historical apparatus images

Bill Freidrich will be offering a new posting segment from time to time

I will be starting to send various vehicles to feature in a “Down Memory Lane” segment. First up is Truck 14. Other truck Companies that had identical rigs were as follows:
Truck 32  EF-212  after Truck 14 got a new rig.
Truck 41  EF-211
Truck 42  EF-213
Truck 53  EF-214
Truck 54  EF-215
Not sure which one was used in the movie Backdraft.
Chicago Fire Department 1978 Seagrave tractor-drawn aerial

Truck 14 was a 1975 Seagrave 100' tractor-drawn aerial with a 1976 IHC Cargostar tractor. Bill Friedrich collection

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