As seen around … O’Hare Airport

This from Larry Shapiro:

I saw CFD Engine 12 during a medical run on the ramp outside Terminal 2 at O’Hare last night.

Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Chicago FD Engine 12, Chicago FD O'Hare Airport fire trucks, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare Airport engine, O'Hare Airport Fire Department

This entry was posted on August 31, 2016, 11:00 AM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

10 Comments

#1 by chris on September 3, 2016 - 4:21 AM

@ David the OMP (O’Hare Modernization project ) determines where the new rescue 2 and 4 will be put and when they will be built according to construction schedules with joint funding from city and the feds
#2 by CrabbyMilton on September 2, 2016 - 11:42 AM

It came up a few times but the question is often asked why some airport rigs are of the same color as the rest of the city while others are of the yellow type.
I’ve been told that if the respective city pays for it, it will be of their color but if it comes from the feds, it will be yellow.
#3 by Bill Post on September 2, 2016 - 10:38 AM

David as the airport and it’s fire protection is federally mandated , I am sure that at least most of the funding would come from the federal government.
While I am not 100% sure there might be a cost sharing formula involved as in so many other government programs. This is only speculation on my part however. Since federal regulations set the minimum response times for ARFF apparatus on the field, the amount of and the location of the stations would be part of meeting those requirements.
I know that Chief Drew Smith does have all of the exact details on the response requirements.
A new runway is being planned that will be in proximity to Station 2 so they need to relocate thatsStation. The city Department of Procurement Service has already published the it’s intention of seeking bids within the next year or so for a new Station 2 and for an enlargement of Station 1 on the south end of the field. The unique thing about Station 1 is that it already is not only the largest station on the field but it is really 2 stations in one as there 2 apparatus floors separated from each other. There is one on the west side and one on the east side of the station. Apparently those two apparatus floors don’t have enough space for all of the apparatus that they want to have there.
As part of the O’Hare expansion program, a few new runways were already opened on the south end so that is probably why they need more space for more apparatus there.
#4 by David on September 2, 2016 - 2:01 AM

Bill, maybe a stupid question but who pays for the new stations on the airports – is that a City affair or the FAA pays for stuff like this?? I know the airport apparatus is paid from FAA funds so is that the case of the stations as well?
#5 by Bill Post on September 2, 2016 - 12:03 AM

Those are interesting shots of Engine 12 and I can’t help but wonder what they were doing there as Engine 9 is generally the nearest engine company to the terminal area. As you can see Engine 12 is smaller, more compact and maneuverable then the larger engines. For that reason it would make sense to have Engine 12 and Engine 9 exchange places with Engine 9 at Station 1 and Engine 12 at Station 3. As Rescue Station 3 is off of the expressway leg to O’Hare, it just is sensible to put Engine 12 there.
Perhaps there is a space problem at Rescue 1 which might be the reason why Engine 12 is still there instead of Engine 9.
The city does have plans to expand Station 1 and to build a new Station 2 within the next few years.
#6 by Jacob on September 1, 2016 - 2:24 AM

what’s wrong with the new e-ones?
#7 by David on September 1, 2016 - 1:27 AM

Different make, this is Spartan, the new engines are E-Ones.
#8 by Brian on August 31, 2016 - 10:36 PM

Specs arent the same?
#9 by Bob on August 31, 2016 - 6:57 PM

Better looking rig than these 3 e-ones we just got.
#10 by CrabbyMilton on August 31, 2016 - 11:44 AM

I do indeed miss the old days before 9-11-01. In those days, you could actually go to the gates without being a passenger. Many Saturdays once in awhile were spent at O’Hare with my scanner walking around and sitting at the gates watching the planes. Often heard calls and saw fire apparatus. Would have lunch and a cold one or 2 then get back on the bus and go back to the Milwaukee Mitchell airport then drive home. I couldn’t help waxing nostalgia but 15 years ago seems so long ago but at the same time it isn’t.
Thanks for posting that.