New 137-foot aerial ladder for Chicago (more)

New 137′ aerial for Chicago … as seen around …

Chicago FD 137' E-ONE aerial

thanks Ray

Tags: Chicago FD orders 137-foot E-ONE aerial ladder, Chicago Fire Department, chicagoareafire.com, fire truck being built for Chicago, new fire truck for Chicago

This entry was posted on November 6, 2019, 7:01 AM and is filed under Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

35 Comments

#1 by rich s. on November 11, 2019 - 10:48 PM

Marty,
The current AT1 is going to be refurbished and placed at E35 as (6-6-1) and as before E35 with be responsible for taking it to extra alarm fires as requested by the IC.
#2 by Andy on November 11, 2019 - 12:39 PM

2FM = Fleet and Facility Management
#3 by Marty Coyne on November 11, 2019 - 11:38 AM

Mike, FM is Fleet Management which controls fleets citywide and took over when the CFD shops closed down. They now do all ordering, speccing, maintenance, repairs etc,
#4 by Mike C on November 11, 2019 - 10:21 AM

Rich S. – What is 2FM as you mention being the owner of CFD’s apparatus?
#5 by Marty Coyne on November 11, 2019 - 9:12 AM

As I understand the thinking behind getting this rig and putting this as AT-8 is that as a slower rig it will available on extra alarm fires citywide to replace the Reserve Snorkel’s (6-6-1) function as an extra elevated master stream without pulling another of the city’s TL’s.
#6 by rich s. on November 11, 2019 - 8:41 AM

Anyone that is living in the Chicago area and those of you on here who don’t should know that the CFD is riddled with politics and infighting between city departments. The rigs and firehouses don’t belong to the CFD they belong to 2FM. Decisions regarding some of these moves are not solely the CFD’s and then add in the politics of the Alderman. So that being said
1. you’ll never see a Bronto in Chicago for many reasons (nor should you they are terrible vehicles)
2. If the move makes sense it’s probably not going to happen
3. We don’t really use aerial ladders for hi-rise fires
#7 by Wayne on November 10, 2019 - 9:40 PM

The rumor, emphasis on rumor, is that the new aerial tower will be going to Truck 8 as that is a slower truck so it will be more likely to be available if needed, as well as it being relatively easy to get downtown if needed.
#8 by Aidan Hughes on November 10, 2019 - 9:36 PM

I don’t take everyone’s political beliefs very seriously. Truck 8 is likely getting this rig regardless of how busy they are. The new rigs are assigned to companies based on their call rates.
#9 by harry on November 10, 2019 - 9:10 PM

why would the new one just go to at1 since that is where all the tall buildings are at
#10 by Tim on November 10, 2019 - 8:35 PM

Aiden you must not be familar with Chicago politics, as we all know Truck 45 was not ever getting the new truck.
#11 by The DH on November 10, 2019 - 1:29 PM

Bill Post, Aerial Tower 1 was on the street under the L when the street gave way, not in quarters. You can find the pic on an image search.
#12 by Bill Post on November 10, 2019 - 12:54 PM

Danny are you saying that the floor cracked in Engine 1’s quarters due to the weight of Aerial Tower 1’s former 1988 E/One? If that’s the case then the city will have to test the floors of the stations where the new aerial tower may be assigned. It would be a good idea if the floors get reinforced wherever they are assigned so something like that doesn’t happen.

Jeff Harkey, Truck 8 is one of the slowest in Chicago, which normally would be unusual as it located on the near southwest side and is close to the center of the city. According to the totals that were put online earlier in the year, Truck 8 had 940 runs in 2018. They are in the Bridgeport area which traditionally has been pretty slow, however it is an old industrial area with a heavy presence of railroad lines and the Stevenson Expressway which is only a block south of the station. Although they have been fairly slow in recent years, they have had some pretty serious extra alarm fires over the years largely due to the heavy industry located in and around the periphery of the area. The southwest branch of the Chicago River also known as the Sanitary and Ship Canal is also few blocks from their quarters. The area has serious and potential hazards.
#13 by Danny on November 10, 2019 - 4:08 AM

Bill the issue more so with the bronto is weight… truck 1s 88 135 ft ladder parked has the back wheels break through the pavement several years ago.
#14 by Bill Post on November 10, 2019 - 12:16 AM

Bill, a few years ago on this blog I suggested that the Chicago Fire Department should consider purchasing a 134-foot Bronto Skylift. Coincidentally it is marketed by E-One in the United States using their chassis. In America they are available in 100, 114, 116, and 134-foot lengths.

The CFD had two 135-foot aerial ladders and prior to those a Morita-Lift that had an elevator basket that went up and down the ladder. It was assigned to Truck 1 from 1975 through 1987.

Several people here didn’t think my suggestion was a good idea thinking it would be wrecked going on EMS runs over Chicago’s pothole infested streets. I also heard that some places were having maintenance issues with them. I know that Tulsa Oklahoma had at least five that they eventually sold. I don’t think they were the 134-foot units.

As far as major fire departments go, Phoenix has been using a 114-foot Bronto since 2006 and Memphis has a 2005 100-foot model. Maintenance issues aside, it seems that it would be a smarter and safer option to able to be in a Snorkel-like basket at 134 feet then being on the rungs of a narrow ladder. A basket is better for rescue work and carrying equipment. A Bronto Skylift is more flexible as it is similar to a Snorkel, however they would have to be sure that any maintenance problems get worked out in advance.
#15 by Aidan Hughes on November 9, 2019 - 8:30 PM

This truck is not going to Truck 45. The firehouse is too small. Truck 8 is likely getting this rig.
#16 by Tim on November 9, 2019 - 7:43 AM

I heard that someone in the 19th Ward found out about the longer truck. Looks like it’s going to Truck 45.
#17 by jeff harkey on November 8, 2019 - 8:50 PM

Historically, how has an Aerial Tower in modern times been used tactically different as opposed to a straight stick and/or a tower ladder?

How does the pre-piped waterway figure into operations with the additional reach?

Hard to believe that T8 is not all that busy.
#18 by Bill on November 7, 2019 - 10:24 PM

Surprised Chicago doesn’t buy a bronto for the loop
#19 by Aidan Hughes on November 7, 2019 - 8:11 PM

I hope Aerial Tower 1 keeps their rig when this new rig arrives at Truck 8. Aerial Tower 1 could be getting one of the new trucks coming soon as Truck 1.
#20 by Chuck on November 7, 2019 - 8:00 PM

This rig as Truck 8 will be a COMPLETE waste of an apparatus. Can’t wait to see it trying to squeeze down those little bitty side streets south of Archer Avenue. Hope somebody at 3501 comes to their senses and not only puts this somewhere else but keeps it from responding citywide.
#21 by Gary on November 7, 2019 - 6:05 PM

Looks good, I like the look better than the ones that Dayton Ohio got. They seem to have a lot of ladder overhang compared to this one and our old one.
#22 by rich s. on November 7, 2019 - 5:00 PM

Speaking of E103 their rig is going to be repaired at a cost of 90,000$ as well as E125’s rig at a cost of 160,000$
#23 by Bill Post on November 6, 2019 - 9:09 PM

Yes Ed that rig was originally Truck 39’s rig and then Truck 39 was taken out of service on June 16, 1969 when Engine 103 and Ambulance 2 moved in. Truck 39 remained out of service for 5 years until they opened up Engine 123’s new house on April 1st 1974.
It’s amazing all of the stations Chicago had near downtown that were within easy walking distance of each other. Engine 17 was only about 2 blocks north of Truck 2 on Lake street east of Jefferson. They lasted until 1968 when they went out of service.
#24 by Ed Gallagher Trk 2 on November 6, 2019 - 7:37 PM

We had a 144′ Magirus at Trk 2 in the early 70s
#25 by Bill Post on November 6, 2019 - 6:55 PM

So, Rich S it looks like they had second thought’s about making Truck 7 an aerial tower and instead they are giving it to Truck 8.

Year’s ago Chicago had two high aerials which were 144-foot Magirus ladders on Mack chassis with B-Model cabs. They were put in service in 1960. One eventually went to Truck 8 as a hand-me-down before being taken out of service in 1976. The original assignments were Truck 3 on Erie west of Lasalle Street and Truck 39 which was where Engine 103 currently is. Truck 3’s rig went to Truck 8 in 1969.

As Truck 8 is one of the slowest truck companies in the central part of the city, it makes more sense having it there as opposed to Truck 7 which is busier. I understand that Truck 7 was the 29th busiest truck company last year while Truck 8 was number 57 out of 61 trucks. Truck 8’s new rig won’t be getting as much wear and tear.
#26 by Rich s. on November 6, 2019 - 5:20 PM

Aidan I’m on AT 1 and the rig is already gone to fleet for multiple issues . It will probably not be back before the new rig is in service.
#27 by Aidan Hughes on November 6, 2019 - 4:59 PM

Refurbishing Aerial Tower 1 is a waste of money. Aerial Tower 1 will keep their rig until further notice.
#28 by Aidan Hughes on November 6, 2019 - 4:25 PM

Aerial Tower 1’s rig is not being refurbished. They will keep it until they get one of the new ladder trucks.
#29 by rich s. on November 6, 2019 - 3:03 PM

This rig will become AT-8 and AT-1 will be refurbished and placed at E-35 as 6-1-1. AT-1 will become T-1 and I believe will get a new E-one 100′ aerial.
#30 by Ted on November 6, 2019 - 2:54 PM

all this attention while Public Surplus has a 30 + year old tower ladder up on auction….
#31 by Mike on November 6, 2019 - 12:59 PM

I read yesterday it’s going to truck 8 and the current aerial tower 1 is going to engine 35’s house and will be renumbered 6-6-1 since the snorkel is done. Aerial tower 1 will become just a regular truck company and will probably get truck 8’s apparatus.
#32 by Danny on November 6, 2019 - 12:01 PM

Everyone is saying truck 7
#33 by michael m on November 6, 2019 - 9:51 AM

Awesome looking truck! It will be interesting to see which truck company it will be assigned to. My guess is Truck 8
#34 by Mike C on November 6, 2019 - 7:51 AM

AWESOME!
#35 by Craig Mack on November 6, 2019 - 7:50 AM

Haven’t seen a protective basket around the aerial pipe in a long time. Very odd looking