This from Eric Haak:
Here are some more images from the 5-11 +1 special at 3610-3620 South Iron Street. The fire was in the old Central Bag Manufacturing Company building which was being used at the time by the Purofied Down Products Company as a pillow factory. The fire occurred on April 4, 1964 with an initial still time of 11:00 am. The first image is a little closer look at the image I shared last week. I was wondering if anyone knew why the two firefighters on the roof of the 1-story were holding their arms up? Was that some type of signal used by the fellas back in those days? Thanks and enjoy.
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
#1 by David on October 15, 2017 - 1:20 PM
Bill, thanks a lot, I didn’t realize that the rig could have been second piece of a Snorkel Squad company.
#2 by Bill Post on October 14, 2017 - 9:04 PM
David that 1958 Buick was most likely the Chief of Division 4’s buggy. Most if not all of the 1958 Buicks were assigned to the Division Marshalls. The fire was in the 4th Division and he was with Engine 59 at 818 W Exchange Avenue near the eastern entrance gate to the Union Stockyards. They were literally just north of and across the street from the International Amphitheater and the Stockyard Inn which was a hotel with the Sirloin Room, a famous steakhouse.
As for the fog pressure that is in the shot, it was either SS1 or SS2A which ran as the second piece to the original Snorkel squads. At the time of the fire, there were 2 Snorkel squads in service. SS2 covered most of the south side from Engine 60’s quarters at 1150 E 55th Street. They had been in service for less then a year. SS1 was at 1044 N Orleans where the Air Mask Service and maintenance station is now. Unlike today, all the Snorkel squads were due on the same 2-11 alarms citywide so both SS1 and SS2 would have been dispatched if they were available. When Snorkel Squad 3 was put in service on May 16, 1965 at 2858 W Fillmore on the west side, they would be dispatched on the same 2-11s with the others. Some of the regular Snorkel companies would also be sent. Normally two Snorkels would be dispatched on the Still and Box alarm, a third on the 2-11, and a fourth on a 3-11. After the 3-11 if more Snorkels were needed they would have to be special called.
At the time of this fire there were only six, single, fog pressure companies in service and if the fire was in their still district they would be sent along with the engines, trucks, and squad companies. They could lead out from one of their two booster reels while the engines were hooking up to hydrants and leading out the big lines. Most of the engine companies at the time didn’t have booster tanks. Chicago had maybe 12 engines out of about 120 that were equipped with booster tanks. At extra alarm fires, the fog pressures could be used for extra manpower if needed plus they would use their high-pressure fog lines to attack burning embers that would sometimes start prairie fires nearby. If there were cars, trucks, or freight cars on a siding nearby, they would be used to wet them down or put out small fires from embers.
About 6 months after this fire, Engine 28 and Truck 8’s new house opened in October of 1964 and Fog Pressure 7 was put in service with them as a new company. The fire at 3610 S Iron would probably have been in Fog Pressure 7’s still district if they were in service.
#3 by FFPMTom on October 13, 2017 - 12:06 AM
Maybe the Cubs won that day and they were making the W
#4 by Eric Haak on October 12, 2017 - 2:19 PM
I wanted to add that about 2 months later, the rest of this building burned in a separate 5-11. The building was torn down soon after.
#5 by David on October 12, 2017 - 1:35 PM
Great photos, love the shot with the ’58 Buick. Also I was wondering – what was the role of the fog pressures at a fire like this, manpower? I always thought that these companies were doing mainly auto fires, brush fires, etc…
#6 by Bill Kugelman on October 12, 2017 - 12:56 PM
“SEND THE WATER”