Looking at the scene facing west on 37th Street, Engine 29 is on a hydrant with Squad 1A and Tower Ladder 37 working in Sector 1. Larry Shapiro photo
Light smoke pushes out of the building at 1428 W. 27th Street this morning. Josh Boyajian photo
At approximately 8AM this morning the Chicago Fire Department received a report of black smoke coming from a four-story warehouse at 1427 W. 37th Street. First arriving companies reported a fire and the alarm was elevated to a 2-11 within minutes. A 3-11 was struck roughly a half hour later which was struck out around 9:30AM. Three tower ladders and the Snorkel from Squad 1 were all working along with one multi-versal and hand lines. Seven engines (19, 28, 29, 39, 49, 50, and 65) were working at the scene as well.
55-gallon drums were stacked throughout the building prompting a Haz Mat Level I, though the barrels were empty. Larry Shapiro photo
A Level I Haz Mat was requested when companies discovered stacks of 55-gallon drums inside the building, but the drums turned out to be empty as the building’s occupant is a manufacturer of industrial drums and containers.
Squad 1 works in the background and Engine 29 supplies them with water. Josh Boyajian photo
Higgins Brothers, Inc. manufactures industrial drums and containers. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 5 was in the rear of the building. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 37 was setup at the 1-2 corner of the building on 37th Street. Larry Shapiro photo
Tower Ladder 39, running with a spare unit, was in the adjacent lot on the east side of the building in Sector 4. Larry Shapiro photo
Companies enter in the rear of the building after the fire is knocked down. Larry Shapiro photo
The Chicago Tribune has an article on the fire HERE.
Larry Shapiro and Tim Olk were at the scene as well as several other photographers. A gallery can be found HERE.
#1 by chris on January 15, 2012 - 6:34 PM
the pierce sq7 and newer tl 63 both have Q sirens
#2 by Scott on January 10, 2012 - 3:22 PM
Tower 5 has a hole in the front bumper where the Federal Q used to be… One of only three rigs that had one in CFD. The old “New” 5-1-1 (the Spartan) and I was told that siren was removed to put on “ENGINE 17-Backdraft” for the movie sound, and the Supervac/Spartan that used to be Sqd 7 prior to the Pierce.
#3 by Scott on January 10, 2012 - 3:14 PM
The Pierce aerials are medium duty ladders. The Crimsons are heavy duty. Difference is weight allowed on the tip (last 3′) and the overall rating of the ladder. As far as holding up, what do you mean? In a suburb, engines are figured for a 20-yr life, trucks 25-30yrs. In Chicago, especially busy cos, that is no where near the full service life. They try, but to get 10 good years at a busy co for an engine is about it. Can’t run a spare truck in place of a tower ladder unless they are out of spare tower ladders. Not the same function.
#4 by Dan on January 2, 2012 - 10:37 PM
Does anybody know why the CFD doesn’t send some of their older trucks in for a refurb? They have several E-One ladders at the shops in the spare pool. Running a 26 year old open cab tower doesn’t make a lot of sense these days, and obviously the apparatus is still servicable since it is still on the street. Is there a reason why don’t they bring it up to current spec by sending it out for a full refurbishment?
#5 by Dan on January 2, 2012 - 7:06 PM
Just curious. why are the newer ladders not holding up? The city seems to have tried all different manufacturers. Are they all poor quality? Difficult maintenance? Are the crews to hard on them? I saw somewhere on here that the pierce ladders were crapping out. They are just the last generation, aren’t they?
Also, who mans the extra equipment in the stations? for example, the mobile command center, ventilation trucks, snorkel, etc?
Thanks for satisfying a suburbanite’s fire curiosities.
#6 by John on January 2, 2012 - 6:09 PM
That corner has been the site of some major fires over the years. In 1955 5-11+5 specials across the street, late 70’s 5-11 next door to the east, and 1986 5-11+ next door to the west
#7 by mike on January 2, 2012 - 5:49 PM
E 250 is one of the original tower ladders purchased by CFD. Not bad for being 26 years old. To bad they don’t build rigs to last like this anymore.
#8 by John on January 2, 2012 - 5:22 PM
Martin, E-250 is a 1985 E-One TL
#9 by danny on January 1, 2012 - 10:25 PM
e-250 was tl 21 when delivered to the city
#10 by Bill Post on January 1, 2012 - 2:41 PM
Sebastian, the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services in the their latest Contract Opportunity Buying Plan which was published in Sept 2011 and covers the time period from the 3rd Quarter of 2011 through the 4th Quarter of 2012 has listed as a project a “Chicago Fire Department Rescue Squad with a Snorkel” with estimated value of from one to five million dollars.
Listed separately is an “O’Hare Fire Rescue Squad” as having an estimated value of over $250,000 and listed separately below the “Rescue Squad” is an “O’Hare Fire Rapid Intervention Vehicle” also with an estimated value of being worth of $250,000.
All that means is that the city would like to ask for bids for those vehicles sometime within the next year. The Rapid Intervention Vehicle would most likely be a replacement for Squad 7A, the current mini foam pumper. As far as the “Rescue Squad with Snorkel” goes being that the prebidding cost estimate is from one to five million dollars, it really means that it depends on how much money the city will have available as to how many of the squad companies that are located in the city proper they will be able to replace at one time. I would assume that the city would replace at least one of the squad companies (outside of Squad 7 at O’Hare Field) but once again it depends on the cost and the money that is available.
The Squads (both in the city and at O’Hare Field) have been listed on the Department of Procurements “Upcoming Contracting Opportunities” list for the last 2 years, however it appears that requests for bids haven’t been released yet. The current “Upcoming Contracting Opportunities” list is the first one released under the new Emanuel administration so let’s see if they finally issue a “request for bids”.
#11 by Sebastian on January 1, 2012 - 11:34 AM
Does anyone know if any of the squads are being slated for replacement???
#12 by Scott on January 1, 2012 - 9:41 AM
Martin, E250 is a SHOP/inventory number to designate a spare apparatus. It is not a Radio number or an inservice company.
#13 by Martin on January 1, 2012 - 12:40 AM
What is year is E250? Wow, I didnt even know Chicago had this many towers still in their fleet.
#14 by Evan Davis on December 31, 2011 - 8:33 PM
I agree! Nice to see that E-One, open cab still running!
#15 by Rob on December 31, 2011 - 3:46 PM
Wow seems like the spares are holding up better than the front line rigs…did they ever convert some of their 103′ sticks to TLs? I know there had been discussion of doing a change order.