As seen around … « chicagoareafire.com

As seen around …

From the Fire Service Inc. Facebook page

Chicago FD Squad 7 nearing the completion of a major refurbishing. Fire Service Inc photo

Previous photos are HERE

Tags: CFD O'Hare Airport firefighting, Chicago FD Squad 7, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Fire Service Inc., O'Hare Airport Fire Department

This entry was posted on September 4, 2015, 8:00 PM and is filed under Fire Service News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

14 Comments

#1 by Michael M on September 13, 2015 - 2:08 PM

I know there were issues with the squads, were they able to resolve those issues? Is Rosenbauer building them again?
#2 by Joe on September 10, 2015 - 2:00 PM

This is just speculation, but I’m thinking that if the city just had squad 7 refurbished, they’ll likely have to use it for a certain period of time. That guess is based on the idea that there were likely federal funds involved in the refurbishment of a vehicle that was originally purchased with federal funds. The feds usually have some kind of period of use agreement tied into their funds. For example, when the CTA buys a bus or railcar and part of the money that goes toward the purchase of that railcar is federal money, they’re required to keep that vehicle for a certain period of time unless extenuating circumstances arise (it is wrecked beyond repair.)

Is it possible the 4th squad was purchased as a spare, or possibly to rotate into service? I know that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but look at the other options. The current spare squad is being held together with duct tape and a prayer, and the in service rigs aren’t looking much better. Unless they’re planning to take the current squad with the least milage and wear and tear and make it a spare, they might have bought a 4th squad simply to have as a spare. I doubt CFD has ever done something like this before, but unless they’re planning a 4th squad company somewhere in the city, I don’t know why else they’d buy 4 squads and refurbish another one.
#3 by mike mc on September 10, 2015 - 1:16 PM

If the city can use the rig as a spare HIT truck, the refubishment would make sense. But is the city allowed to use old airport rigs as spares? Must admit I have never seen one outside of the airports, of course, they usually don’t have many other uses.

Is a fourth squad (in the city) a realistic possiblity?
#4 by Marty Coyne on September 10, 2015 - 10:51 AM

Presumably the city is not going to replace Squad 7 with a new rig. Otherwise it makes little sense to spend the kind of money this must be costing. Of course the city and sense…….
#5 by will on September 9, 2015 - 3:46 PM

Your article about the Park Ridge Fire Department receiving a piece of steel from the World Trade center references Maine WEST high school. However, the high school depicted in the photos (which you also identified as being at Dempster & Potter) is Maine EAST high school.
Maine West looks nothing like Maine East (which is the school depicted in the photos).
Thought you might want to know.
#6 by mike mc on September 9, 2015 - 3:11 PM

Why spend money to refurbish Squad 7 if new rigs are being manufactured? Just to use as a spare at the airport?
A spare for 5-1-2 as well as Squad 7?

Does anyone know if the city is allowed to use old airport rigs as spares or do they have to turn them over to the feds? Thanks.
#7 by Bill Post on September 9, 2015 - 9:24 AM

It’s funny but the Original “Big Moe” was at time operated by the old Chicago Civil Defense. In those years Big Moe was known as 672. The Original 671 was Chicago’s Jeep Pressure unit 1.Big Moe was operated by the CFD out of Engine 1 and out Engine 42 when their new large (current) large station was opened however the Civil Defense did help with at least one of the Chassis that Big Moe had used. Big Moe had been mounted on at least 3 different chassis. The first was a black over red Willies Jeep which was a Cab over Engine design similar to other Jeep apparatus that Chicago had at the time. That chassis didn’t last long as the Piping was a little too large and the Piping was remounted on some Larger Military surplus Chassis. I believe that they might have been an International or some other brand that was used on Military Trucks. The first such Chassis was black over red however the second on was in white over blue Civil Defense Colors. By that time Big John had been put in service so while Big John (673) was the CFD’s primary big Deluge Unit, Big Moe had become the CFD’s secondary Deluge Unit. hey had both been running out of Engine 42’s house at the time.The Deluge units and most other special duty apparatus were manned at the time by firefighters assigned to “light duty”. At the very beginning I think that Big Moe may have been running out of the Civil Defense station on Wells near Division (old Engine 27) however they were mainly running out of Engine 1 and Engine 42’s stations.
#8 by Fred M on September 8, 2015 - 9:49 AM

671 has proven its worth at large fires. Should be re mounted and put into the reserve system…but it’s always about the money. Maybe the City would sell it to “Buff’s” ?!!!!
#9 by Marty Coyne on September 8, 2015 - 8:45 AM

Bill, 6-7-1 is still in the spares lot but has been delettered.
#10 by Bill Post on September 7, 2015 - 9:02 PM

Maybe they will have a change of heart when it comes to the Squad assignments and perhaps they will keep Squad 7’s Pierce in service as Squad 7 at O’Hare Field and instead they would put fourth new 2 piece Snorkel/Squad as a new 4th Squad in service for the city proper, whenever we finally get them delivered. That is wishful thinking on my part however.
I understand that the city had come to an understanding with Rosenbauer earlier in the year and that they are going to make good on the order for the 4 new 2 piece Snorkel Squads.
#11 by Matthew G on September 7, 2015 - 8:51 PM

New paint, new wheels, new Fed Sig LED warning lights, looks great. I hope that rig is going to serve the city well for another 10 years
#12 by Bill Post on September 7, 2015 - 8:51 PM

That’s truly a one of a kind rig in Chicago so it’s good that they are fixing it up .however speaking of one of a kind rigs I wonder if the CFD is still holding on to 671 the Large Deluge Wagon on the Mack M/B chassis. I know that it was officially taken out of service and just when that happened they needed it on at least 2 Large fires about 2 years ago. That’s another rig that Chicago should be fixing up or even remounting on a new Chassis just like what was done with 673 and 676. While 671 isn’t used that often it still can come in handy at times and considering that the deluge units aren’t manned it isn’t that a crew is being paid for keeping it service.
#13 by Michael M on September 7, 2015 - 8:16 PM

I am guessing they are planning on keeping it a few more years. Looks nice though. Any idea when it will be back at Rescue 3?
#14 by danny on September 7, 2015 - 2:14 PM

no love on this page for squad 7 lol