The Waukegan Fire Department has been added to the listings in MABAS Division 4. The last department in the county to be added is the largest. Waukegan has five stations with more than 28 pieces of rolling stock. All houses have an ALS rescue unit, and four run engine companies. Waukegan Station 4 staffs a 105′ Pierce quint alongside Rescue 1644.
Waukegan Squad 1651 is a 2004 Seagrave. Jeff Rudolph photo
Waukegan provides a bomb squad with containment vessel for Lake and McHenry Counties out of an annex building at Station 1. They also have a dive unit, haz mat unit, a large squad, and a 6×6 ARFF at the Waukegan Regional Airport.
Waukegan 1667 serves as the bomb squad for Lake and McHenry counties. Larry Shapiro photo
1665 is a 1984 Oshkosh T-12 6×6 1500/3140/310AFFF. Larry Shapiro photo
They have Seagrave and KME engines, a Pierce and Seagrave aerial, plus Medtec, Wheeled Coach, and Taylor Made ambulances.
Engine 1613 is a 2011 KME Severe Service 1500/750. Jeff Rudolph photo
Rescue 1643 is a 2007 Medtec on a 4300 IHC chassis. Larry Shapiro photo
#1 by Henry Gruba on September 6, 2013 - 8:06 PM
We are always hoping to get new rigs. We do need them. Lots of miles, lots of hours, lots of wear and tear. But we haven’t heard anything firm.
I will check my stuff to what photos I have.
#2 by Brian R on September 5, 2013 - 4:22 PM
Are there any historical photos of Waukegan’s former equipment and stations. I grew up there and would love to see some of the old stuff.
#3 by Rob on September 3, 2013 - 8:05 PM
Does Waukegan have any plans this year or next to replace any of the amb or engine?
#4 by Henry Gruba on September 3, 2013 - 1:50 PM
Yes, at various times there was a 2nd staffed truck in Waukegan. A tiller ran from #3 and a snorkel from the old #1. When a larger truck was purchased, an LTI steel stick, a nice rig even they disposed of it, had to go to the new #1 because of its size (height).
The current T4 went to #4 because of its size also. Too tall to fit at #3 and not enough manpower at #1. They want to keep the squad in service as much as possible.
Before the squad we did two engines at #1. The district was roughly divided at the Northshore Bike Path. E1 went east and E21 went west.
#5 by Bill Post on September 3, 2013 - 9:09 AM
Thanks for the information Henry. I thought that there was a “Downtown Station” at one time and had wondered where it had been and when it closed.
Was there ever another Truck company in service in Waukegan? I presume that the current Truck company “Quint 4” was at one time at the old Headquarters station when it was downtown?
I know that before the Pierce Quint was acquired the Seagrave Quint at the “New” Station 1 used to run from Station 3 as the town’s Truck company. One of the things
about the current station 1 is that it really isn’t centrally located as the previous “downtown” station one and is somewhat off center so station 3 was made in the town’s main “Truck company” station even though the station is very small which is why the 1995 Seagrave (which was originally) Truck 1633 is so small. Apparently when the PIerce Quint was purchased they could’t fit it into station 3 so they put it in service at station 4 and Engine 4 apparently had become Engine 3.
There is no question that when station 1 was downtown it was is a better and a more central location as both station 4 and the current station 1 are off center for a Truck company which is probably why they put the Squad in service at station 1. They should have kept station 1 downtown where is was more centrally located.
When the Quint company was in service at station 3 didn’t they run with 2 Engines in service out of station 1? I believe that the Squad replaced station 1’s 2nd Engine , correct?
#6 by Henry Gruba on September 2, 2013 - 6:50 PM
Word on the street is E2 and E3 will swap rigs. E2 has a foam tank so is the back up to the airport when E65 goes OOS, for a variety of reasons.
#7 by Henry Gruba on September 2, 2013 - 6:48 PM
Minimum daily staffing is 3 on the engines & truck and 2 on the ambulances. The squad or BC is not mentioned in the contract. .If everything is staffed the way it should be, they should be 29 on duty. 1 BC, 4 engines x 3, 1 truck x 3, 1 squad x 3, 5 ambos x 2. But they can drop down to 22 if members are off or sick. For staffing between 22 and 29 there is a matrix as to what is staffed where. The squad is often staffed with 2 or OOS and Station #2 & #5 often drop down to a 3 man jump station.
#8 by Henry Gruba on September 2, 2013 - 6:41 PM
The old south side station on McAlister was closed in 1982, along with the old main station by city hall, now the PD, when the new Station #1, Headquarters, was opened.
#9 by Keith Grzadziel on September 2, 2013 - 8:02 AM
FFEMT: Sorry for typo, I meant Amb 1645 looks pre 2007.
#10 by Mike Mc on September 1, 2013 - 9:04 PM
Can anyone provide information on the old, former firehouse at McAlister and South Avenue? It looks like it was of historical significance. I am just curious as to when it was in service, what companies were there, etc. Thanks in advance for any responses.
#11 by FFEMT on September 1, 2013 - 3:01 PM
Keith–1644 has a post 2004 chassis, and those are all LED lights, except for the white scene lights.
Also, 1631 is their reserve to 1634…only staffed by callback members if there’s a working incident. Just stored at station 1 due to lack of space at 4.
#12 by Keith Grzadziel on September 1, 2013 - 8:34 AM
Amb1642 looks pretty identical to Amb 1649 so it’s probably a 1997 International. Amb 1644 looks pre 2007 judging by the strobes and halogen flashers on it. Does Waukegan run Trk 1631frontline or is it a jump company with the Squad or just reserve?Also does anyone know what their daily staffing is?
#13 by FFPM571 on August 31, 2013 - 9:00 PM
That is a pre 2004 freightliner. The body style changed in 2004 to the more aerodynamic style. What the sticker shows is a tag from recall work done on that date in 2006 under what campaign and what dealer did the work.
#14 by Admin on August 31, 2013 - 9:22 PM
thanks for the clarification. the original tag was not legible. one correction though, it’s a navistar not a freightliner
#15 by FFEMT on August 31, 2013 - 5:35 PM
Just FYI regarding the ambo at station 2 (1642)…there’s no way that’s a 2006 unit.
#16 by Admin on August 31, 2013 - 6:59 PM
that’s what it looks like to us … HERE
#17 by Drew Smith on August 31, 2013 - 4:07 PM
The Oshkosh T-12 is x-Minneapolis airport. It’s a nice unit in my opinion.