As seen around … O’Hare Airport

double decker airplane ARFF training prop

Dan McInerney photo

New double decker training prop. Dan McInerney photo

Dan McInerney photo

Dan McInerney photo

New annex at Rescue 1. Dan McInerney photo

Tags: CFD O'Hare Airport firefighting, Chicago FD O'Hare Airport fire trucks, Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare Airport, Chicago O'Hare Airport Fire Department, Dan McInerney, double decker airplane training prop at O'Hare Airport, new simulator for O'Hare firefighters, O'Hare Airport FD Rescue Station 1 annex, O'Hare Airport Fire Department

This entry was posted on June 24, 2018, 2:00 PM and is filed under Fire Department News. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

12 Comments

#1 by mike on July 1, 2018 - 4:14 PM

How far into the city proper does squad 7 respond?
#2 by cs on June 28, 2018 - 2:25 PM

@Bill P the new rescue 2 will be west of signature flight support off of patton rd right next to the north east cargo bldg 836 ,the current rescue 4 can only fit 1 arff rig and a smaller unit .A new rescue 4 is proposed a little south and west of the current location off of zulu taxiway and the service rd by the hangers and the west end of the new 9C runway not sure if or when it will happen
#3 by Bill Post on June 26, 2018 - 8:44 PM

Mike L I meant the three minute requirement for all of the runways to be adequately covered according to FAA regulations.
#4 by Bill Post on June 26, 2018 - 8:40 PM

Mike L where exactly is the general aviation ramp off of Bessie Coleman Drive where they are supposed to be building the new Rescue Station 2? I haven’t been able to find it.
I don’t see anything marked general aviation ramp.
I’m sure that the new location for station 2 will be able to have each runway covered to meet the minute requirement that is mandated by the FAA correct? I wonder exactly how the new location will change the station coverage for O’Hare and what it’s relationship to Rescue 4 will be. Rescue 4 has only one ARFF. According to what you said a 4th ambulance is scheduled to replace Battalion 13 which will go back to Station 1. So I take it Rescue 4 will still house only one ARFF correct? I would think that the relocation of Station 2 might add a second ARFF to Station 4 but maybe not?
#5 by Mike L on June 25, 2018 - 9:16 AM

Murph, you are correct. That would be a tough runway to negotiate! It should have read 22L/4R and 22L/4R. In regards to the 32L/14R and 32R/14L, 32R/14L was partially removed last year and what remains was turned into a taxiway. It was the runway Flight 191 departed from May 25th, 1979. 32L/14R was shortened years ago to remove the intersections with the 10/28’s and a few years ago was renamed 33/15. It was decommissioned this past May and turned into a taxiway. If you look at Google Maps, you can see 9C/27C being constructed now with only Rescue 2 and a few buildings west of it in the way. Rescue 2 needs to move quick and the word is the new Rescue 2 will be opened by very early next year. We’ll see. If my first post went through after I resent this, I apologize.
#6 by BMurphy on June 25, 2018 - 8:08 AM

Great info- lots of changes coming with all the new construction and 8th runway (9C/27C) being built.

I hope they have more than 1 cook per shift at Rescue 1! And a BIG table. And dishwasher.

With apologies to Mike L (who’s always spot-on): it’s runways 22L/4R and 22R/4L; a 22/14 arrangement would be a big 90 degree elbow. Which would certainly provide some very interesting takeoff and landing rolls! I’d pay extra for that…
#7 by Jason on June 24, 2018 - 8:02 PM

Does anyone know what company is hosting the training?
#8 by Mike L on June 24, 2018 - 6:18 PM

As far as general coverage goes with the current arrangement of firehouses, Rescue 4 and Rescue 2 handle the hangers off Mt Prospect Rd and new freight area located off of Bessie Coleman and Higgins along with the north runways (22R/14L, 9L-27R and 9R-27L). Rescue 3 handles the terminals and Rescue 1 handles the south freight area along with the south runways (22L/14R, 10R/28L, 10C/28C and 10L/28R).
#9 by Mike L on June 24, 2018 - 6:07 PM

Rescue 1’s annex is an L shape coming off the west end of the original building going north. It has its own watch tower, bunk room, etc but the whole building still shares a kitchen for all 25-27 personnel on duty. 2-7-3 and BN 13 are supposed to be relocated from Rescue 3 and Rescue 4 back to Rescue 1 soon. Rescue 2 will be relocated soon to a new firehouse located off Bessie Coleman near the General Aviation ramp. Rescue 4 will have 6-5-9 and a 4th ambulance for ORD. Rescue 4 is located in the original Rescue 2 that was closed when the current Rescue 2 opened as Mr Post stated. 6-5-9 was organized in a remodeled portion of that old station about 8 or 9 years ago. As far as Rescue 1 goes for equipment, it has Eng 12, TL 63, Amb 26, 5-1-2, 6-5-3, 6-5-7, 6-5-8 and 6-5-10 and soon 2-7-3 and BN 13. I believe 8-8-20 and 8-820A are also located at Rescue 1. Eng 11 is with Trk 9 and Amb 2 on Cumberland in the city proper. Rescue 3 will have Eng 9, Sqd 7, MVU 9-2-4 and Amb 59. As far as additional stations beyond the current 4, nothing is planned but that may well change when the west terminals are built in a few years. There is also talk of a 2nd tower ladder being organized when the new Rescue 2 opens but that is only talk at this point.
#10 by Michael M on June 24, 2018 - 5:02 PM

Is Rescue 2 the only station that is in the middle of the airfield? I know Rescue 3 is near one of the arrival terminals. I heard that Rescue 1 was off Irving Park Road.
Rescue 1 has a lot of equipment in it, lets see 4 crash trucks Engine 11, Tower Ladder 63, HazMat 512. That is at least 7 rigs I am sure there are many more that I am missing.
#11 by Bill Post on June 24, 2018 - 4:46 PM

Where is the Annex in relation to Rescue Station 1 as I don’t see station 1 in any of the photos?
#12 by Bill Post on June 24, 2018 - 4:05 PM

The last photo says “new annex at Rescue 1′. So is it a new station attached to Engine 12 and Tower Ladder 63’s house on the south end of field? If that’s the case is it around the corner or is it literally attached to the station. In the photo it looks like a separate building and I don’t see a sign of the larger station.
If the new annex is a separate building does it have living quarters? Was it built because there wasn’t enough space for all of the rigs? The main building at Rescue 1 has two separate apparatus floors with offices or living quarters in the middle. Which rigs are now in the annex? In the photo it appears that three of the ARFF rigs are there.
Is there only one ARFF in the main building now? The last I heard was that Rescue 1 had 653,657, 658, and 6510. So which one is still at the main building?
A few years ago I heard that two or more stations would be built because of the new runway configuration. At the very least a new Station 2 on the north end for Engine 10, Ambulance 16, 654, 655, 656, and 635. Is Engine 10’s new house being built yet?
Are there other plans for new stations?
Are Battalion 13 and 659 going to remain in Rescue 4 at the far north end of the field in what was formerly the old Crash Station 2? This was opened several years ago because of the new far north runway.