This follow up from Steve Redick relates to a rent post Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974:
I sent this out a while back and just got some additional info to share. Old time fan Chuck Bleck was working in the insurance industry at the time and prepared an extensive diagram of the fire and was kind enough to share it. Chuck also sent a copy of the report in Turnout magazine from the fire as well as some other good old CFD info.
** a note to our younger readers who might be wondering about the odd looking type of the two summaries above … they were created with a typewriter
#1 by grumpy grizzly on May 6, 2015 - 2:50 PM
I thought the Morita would not fit into quarters on Washington St, so it ended up @ 1’s house. Does anyone have contact info on Mr Bleck, we used to buff in the 80’s
#2 by ENG 17 on May 6, 2015 - 7:47 AM
Man that 258′ wheelbase on the SUPER TRUCK must have made it a bear to drive around the city….
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#3 by Mike L on May 5, 2015 - 8:29 PM
Well, that would explain that then. Seemed odd for them to move from 130th & Doty to Trk 28 and then to the 5-11 when there were, quite literally, dozens of trucks closer to change and/or go to the fire. Thanks, Mike Mc.
#4 by mike mc on May 5, 2015 - 3:13 PM
There might be more to Truck 62’s assignment than randum chance and change of quaters. Commissioner Quinn would sometimes have companies from “garden spots” that he did not care for go to prolonged, extra alarm, surround and drowns. It was a form of punishment and/or a reminder that they were still part of the department. I was told that he even had Truck 45 go downtown at least once. He didn’t care if another truck had to change to their quarters so they could go downtown.
Truck 62 did not have the greatest rep in the mid-1970’s.
#5 by Chuck on May 5, 2015 - 2:21 PM
I was amazed at the price of the Morita ladder…$179,000 doesn’t buy you the chassis anymore, much less a whole apparatus.
#6 by Mike L on May 5, 2015 - 1:42 PM
Very cool! Looking at the diagram it Shows Trk 62 on scene after changing quarters to Trk 8. Long C/Q and a long way from home.