This from Brian Kazmierzak:

Al Kirchner is the retired Chief of the US Marine Corp Fire Service and a life long Fire Buff of the Chicago FD especially Engine 61 and the 16th Battalion when it ran out of Engine 45 under the auspices of Bill Foran and company.

Al was a Notre Dame student firefighter who grew up on Long Island NY and ended up becoming personal friends of Commissioner Quinn.

After Notre Dame Al went on to work for the Washington DC FD and then the USFA and eventually the Superintendent National Fire Academy.

Al has made his Chicago memories come alive for one of the most fanned firehouses in Chicago!

For those of us that fanned at Engine 61 this place conjures up great memories. For me it was with Lt. Pat Durkin and in the end Capt. Keith Witt.

In an interesting turn of events Keith Witt retired out of the CFD as a chief in the 18th Battalion and now works with me at Penn Twp FD IN.

Chicago FD Engine 61 badge

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

vintage Chicago FD helmet

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

CFD Engine 61 Museum

Brian Kazmierzak photo

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