As seen around … Chicago « chicagoareafire.com

As seen around … Chicago

From chicagoland_fire_photos:

A visit to Engine 13

chicagoland_fire_photos

Tags: Chicago FD Engine 13, Chicago FD memorial plaque, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department memorial, Chicagoland_fire_photos, inside Chicago FD Engine 13's house

This entry was posted on April 25, 2021, 7:00 AM and is filed under FIre Stations, Fire Truck photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

12 Comments

#1 by Lt/pm wayne Kinzie on May 1, 2021 - 9:23 PM

I was assigned to Engine 98 for 12 years. There is no way you are going to fit 2 buggies in there. It would be a tight squeeze just to fit one. The handicapped washroom renovations on the apparatus floor cut down on the space. A scenario with 1 buggy would be like Engine 70s old house on Rosemont.
#2 by Luke Jackson on April 29, 2021 - 11:32 AM

If I can remember correctly when I went to E42/TRK-3 three years ago they told me the new station is going to be built next door, and that they’ll stay in the current station until it’s done. Once that happens then they’ll demolish the old building and build the residential tower that’s supposed to be there.
#3 by Bill Post on April 28, 2021 - 3:07 AM

Michael m, Squad/Snorkel 1 was at Engine 5 before 521, the collapse rescue rig was put in service there. Truck 2 was at Engine 18’s old station since Squad 1 was put in service as a two-piece company on September 19 1983. In 1987, Squad 1 became a single-piece Snorkel squad when they were assigned a Spartan/ E-One 55-foot Snorkel. A short time after Squad 1 was relocated to Engine 13 in January 1992, they were given an old Seagrave engine from the mid 1970s. The pump was removed and extra compartments were added to handle more equipment as the Snorkel was getting top heavy.

In 1996, Squad 1 became a single heavy rescue unit and in 2000 they were a two-piece Snorkel Squad again.

So there is a question as to whether Engine 5’s house can handle Squad 1’s current apparatus considering that Collapse Rescue 1 is also there along with Truck 2. If it were up to me I would move 521 to another house like Engine 18 for example to make room for the squad.
#4 by Michael m on April 27, 2021 - 3:40 PM

If they demolish Engine 42’s current house and build the new house along with that residential tower, wouldn’t they have to re-locate all the rigs at 42’s house?
If they need to put Squad 1 somewhere else temporarily why not place them at their old house, Engine 5?
I guess they put them at Engine 42 because 42 is more centrally located.
Did not realize engine 13 was built on top of a parking garage.
Why don’t the firefighters park in the garage and keep the third bay clear?
If they do tear down Engine 42’s house any ideas where else they might move rigs? Engine 5 seems like the most logical choice for Squad 1. Either Truck 3 or Engine 42 could go to Engine 1 and truck 1. The two Ambulances would have to go to Engine 13. The chiefs would have to go to Engine 98.
Again all this is off the top of my head if and when they do demolish and rebuild Engine 42’s house.
#5 by Bill Post on April 26, 2021 - 11:10 PM

John Antkowski, the guys at Squad 1 were absolutely right that Engine 13 was a bad location for a squad. Engine 5, where they originally were, was a much better spot. They had easy access to the west side where most of their working fires were plus access to the south and north since they were close to the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Dan Ryan interchange ‘the spaghetti bowl’.

The three current squad companies went in service on September 19, 1983 when Fire Commissioner Louis Galante took three of the six squads and Snorkels out of service combining the remaining units into three two-piece companies.

SS1, the last of the original Snorkel squads was taken out of service in October of 1980. SS1 and the five remaining Flying Manpower Squads were replaced by squad companies assigned one each per district. In September of 1982 the 6th district was created with a 6th squad and Snorkel however they only lasted a year. Then the three new squad Snorkels were put in service.

Not only was Squad/Snorkel 1’s original location better but the same could be said for Squad/Snorkel 2 and Squad/Snorkel 5 as well. Squad 1 was at Engine 5, Squad 2 was at Engine 106, and Squad 5, which was at first called Squad/Snorkel 6, was at Engine 122.

Engine 106’s house was a more strategic location for Squad 2 as they were only a few blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway on Elston Avenue, a diagonal street which was a great shortcut to the far northwest side, the near northwest side and even downtown. They were less then a mile west of Western Avenue which is a great street to get to the far north side. Squad 2 moved to Engine 91 when Truck 14 was relocated from there to Engine 117 around 1984. That was before Truck 14 became a tower ladder.

Squad 5 was within two blocks of the Dan Ryan Expressway, however within a few years they were moved further north to Engine 116 as they were getting a lot of working fires in that area. Engine 122’s house is still a better location for covering the far south side like Battalion 22’s area and battalions 23 and 24 on the southeast side. You might have noticed that Battalion 22 has been getting more working fires and Battalion 23 gets it’s share as well.

It would be a great if the squads moved back to where they originally were put in service however I don’t see that happening. All were located within a few blocks of an expressway.
#6 by John Antkowski on April 26, 2021 - 8:50 PM

Did you you know that the firehouse house is actually 7 stores above ground. It’s building is built on a parking structure. The last time I visited Engine 13 Squad 1 was assigned there. I think they moved in when Truck 12 was taken out of service. Me and my friend rode on the squad and we had the time of our lives. The squad guys would say it was a bad spot for them because of how Far East they were and traffic was always a problem. Back in those days you could ride the squad as an educational experience, but you had to be certified Firefighter to qualify to participate. We did it 3 times once with Squad 1 and twice with Squad 2 they had Squad 5 closed for ride alongs. But Great memories! None the least. Thanks for letting me go on. Stay safe.
#7 by Mike on April 26, 2021 - 8:41 PM

That’s a lot of guys to cook for there.
#8 by Wayne on April 26, 2021 - 7:27 PM

My bad, 6-8-6 is still there.
#9 by Mabas Guy on April 26, 2021 - 6:16 AM

Did Dive Chief 6-8-6 get moved or is it still there
#10 by Wayne on April 26, 2021 - 5:53 AM

Engine 13 is the quarters of:
Engine 13
Truck 6
SCUBA Team 6-8-7
Ambulance 74
Battalion 1
#11 by Michael m on April 25, 2021 - 10:50 PM

How many rigs are in Engines 13 house!
#12 by Michael m on April 25, 2021 - 10:47 PM

I guess Truck 6’s Pierce is in the shop.