This from Steve Redick:
So I have finally started cleaning up some of my accumulation of fire stuff, now that I am an old retired guy. I came across my old home made recording of the 4-11 alarm at Z Frank Chevy, Granville and Western in 1978. I remember I was on my way to college classes and “took this in”. It was snowing like crazy. I took a few images and then had to continue to school. The Main FAO radio voices were Dan Evans and George Brown. I’m not sure who the chief was in the 27th. Enjoy the historySteve
#1 by David on August 25, 2017 - 5:25 AM
And here we go, Steve thanks a lot!
#2 by Steve redick on August 24, 2017 - 7:17 AM
The guy in the red helmet is the 5-11 club canteen guy. We used to wear red helmets on the fireground.
#3 by Phil Stenholm on August 23, 2017 - 7:35 PM
Just a quick correctton… the five CFD 1966 Mack/Pirsch MMA were shop #s E-157 – E-161, not D-157 – D-161.
#4 by Phil Stenholm on August 23, 2017 - 7:15 PM
All five of the 1966 Mack/Pirsch 100′ MMA placed into service in 1966 became spares in 1977-78, so R-2 could have been any one of the five.
Only 12 years old in 1978, these five trucks were the newest CFD spare truck apparatus in reserve at that time, and they got a lot of work with various truck companies as “shop spares” well into the 1980’s.
The Mack/Pirsch rigs were notable as being the first CFD aerial-ladder trucks equipped with booster systems (pump, water tank, and hose reel), so they were initially assigned to truck companies located near expressways (D-157 with Truck Co. 56, D-158 with Truck Co. 4, D-159 with Truck Co. 17, D-160 with Truck Co. 5, and D-161 with Truck Co. 40), and the trucks routinely responded to vehicle fires on the expressways.
D-160 was transferred from Truck Co. 5 to Truck Co. 38 in 1972 and D-158 was transferred from Truck Co. 4 to Truck Co. 25 after booster systems on CFD truck apparatus were disconnected in 1973, but the other three 1966 Mack/Pirsch rigs remained with their originally assigned truck companies for as long as they were in front-line service.
#5 by mike mc on August 23, 2017 - 8:14 AM
I’m pretty sure that was Truck 40 when in service. R2 meant it was the second reserve truck at the shops. The same reserve truck made a cameo appearance in ‘The Blues Brothers” outside city hall/Daley center plaza.
#6 by John Antkowski on August 23, 2017 - 7:12 AM
Drew l think that you got it. It’s a reserve rig. I’m guessing that it was being used as a spare by someone else. Nice job. John
#7 by Drew Smith on August 22, 2017 - 10:32 PM
Looks like this may be it http://www.illinoisfiretrucks.com/CHICAGO-FIRE-DEPARTMENT/DOWN-MEMORY-LANE/TRUCKS/i-qvGmsHS/A
#8 by Drew Smith on August 22, 2017 - 10:25 PM
Looks like it says “R2” on the rear of that Mack/Pirsch?
#9 by John Antkowski on August 22, 2017 - 7:48 PM
What Truck company had the midship mounted Mack Pirsch aerial? I can’t make out the number? John
#10 by George eimer on August 22, 2017 - 2:28 PM
When I was a volunteer fireman at streamwood good ol days my helmet. Was Red. Lieutenants Had red so my friend and I would ride with Chicago but not at that fire .we changed ours later for black so we did not stand out .
#11 by David on August 22, 2017 - 5:27 AM
Good idea Mike, either what you say or maybe some kinda buff/photographer/5-11 club member (not sure if the 5-11 club already existed in 1978) with his own hat, or something like that.
#12 by mike mc on August 21, 2017 - 4:15 PM
My guess would be an out of town firefighting riding a Chicago rig.
#13 by David on August 18, 2017 - 12:49 PM
Anyone knows why’s the guy on the last photo wearing red helmet, was this some sort of special detailed role in the fireground, like the today’s safety officers with the red cover on the air bottles? Reminds me of the old Fire Patrol but this was fairly long gone by then.