Posts Tagged American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel

Lake County Indiana Snorkel History

Sep 5

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 12 Comments

This from Wayne Stuart for #TBT:

Lake County Indiana fire departments had many Snorkels in service over the years. Gary had two in service but not at the same time, with the ALF coming from South Holland. The Griffith rig came from New Albany, Indiana, The Mattoon ALF also served in St. John and Shelby Indiana. Hammond ran two Snorkel companies at the same time, Snorkel 1, and Snorkel 2. Munster is located in Lake County but is in Mabas Div 24. The Crown Point rig came from Snohomish County, Washington who purchased it as a demo.

wayne stuart collection

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Wayne Stuart photo

Tags: #TBT, 1963 Maxim Snorkel, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, East Chicago FD Maxim Snorkel, East Chicago Fire Department history, Gary Fire Department history, Gary Fire Department Snorkel, Griffith Fire Department American LaFrance Aero Chief 90, Griffith Fire Department history, Hammond Fire Department Snorkel, historic fire truck pictures, Hobart Fire Department Snorkel, Mack CF Snorkel, Mattoon Fire Department history, Maxim Pierce Snorkel, Munster Fire Department history, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage Snorkel fire trucks, Wayne Stuart

American LaFrance Aero Chief units in the Chicago area

Apr 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 6 Comments

From Larry Shapiro for #TBT:

Here are other American LaFrance Aero Chief units from my collection in addition to the Zion unit that was featured preciously.

1969 American LaFrance 900 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 12-1-1314
1969 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from Elgin, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

Reg.# 8-1-429
1967 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from LaGrange, IL
Originally delivered as a quint, this Aero Chief had it’s pump and tank removed. A large equipment compartment replaced the pump. Larry Shapiro photo

1971 American LaFrance 1000 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 14-1-2331
1971 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Libertyville, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

1970 American LaFrance 1000 Series Aero Chief 90

Reg.# 14-1-2131
1970 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Rolling Meadows, IL. Larry Shapiro photo

Data and narrative for these photos is from THE AMERICAN LAFRANCE AERO CHIEF PROJECT

This website is the result of a twelve year project to document the production and history of the American LaFrance Aero Chief. The Aero Chief was introduced in 1962 and continued in production until 1974. 171 Aero Chief platforms were built. It came in three sizes: 70′, 80′, and 90′. Most Aero Chiefs were built on the custom American LaFrance chassis, but there were several built on various commercial chassis. Many of them had pumps and even more had tandem rear axles.

The photos on this site come from a variety of sources. I have photgraphed 65 of them, but the remainder come from many other photographers, including Glenn Vincent, Mike Martinelli, Scott Berringer, Kevin McKeon, Garry Kadzielawski, Bill Friedrich, Don Feipel, Bill Hattersley, Paul Barrett, Scott Mattson, John Floyd, Al Whitlock, Don Loeb, Dan Decher, Ralph Decker, Jon Umbdenstock, Ron Bogardus, Wayne Sorensen, Chuck Madderom, Richard Bartlett, Dave Stewardson, Ken Wible, John Langley, Todd Lincoln, Dan Jasina, Tom Shepherd, Mark Rzepnicki, Andrew Henry, Mike Bakunis, and a host of others whose names have faded from my feeble memory. If you have sent me photos and you can’t find your name, please contact me and it will be immediately corrected. Additional photos came from many of the fire departments who owned Aero Chiefs. To all these contributors, I am forever in your debt.

The information on this website will be updated as it becomes available. Any additional information or photos are always welcome. Please contact me through the link at the bottom of this page. Thank you and enjoy!

Tags: #TBT, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, American LaFrance Century Series Aero chief aerial, chicagoareafire.com, classic fire trucks, Elgin Fire Department history, history, La Grange Park Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, Libertyville Fire Department history, Mount Prospect Fire Department history, Rolling Meadows Fire Department history, shapirophotography.net, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage fire truck photo, vintage fire trucks

Zion Fire Department history

Apr 12

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday | 6 Comments

This from Larry Shapiro for #TBT

Zion FD American LaFrance Aero-Chief Snorkel

Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: #TBT, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, American LaFrance Century Series Aero chief aerial, Larry Shapiro, shapirophotography.net, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage fire truck photo, Zion Fire Department history

Historic fire: Goldblatt’s fire in Mt Prospect, 1977 (pt3)

Mar 27

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | Comments off

Images from Steve Redick from the Goldblatt’s Department Store fire in the winter of 1977.

Glenbrook FPD Pierce Snorkel working at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel at fire scene

Steve Redick photo

Steve Redick photo

Tags: 75? Snorkel, Aero Chief, American LaFrance 900 Series Aero Chief 90, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, big fire in bitter cold weather, department store fire, fire trucks at fire scene, firefighters working at fire scene, Ford/Pierce/Snorkel, Glenbrook Fire Department, Glenbrook Fire Protection District, Goldblatts fire in 1977, historic fire photos, large winter fire, Mount Prospect FIre Department, photos of fire fighters working, photos of fire trucks at fire scene, Randhurst shopping center fire, Snorkel fire apparatus, Snorkel fire truck at big fire, Steve Redick

Historic fire: Goldblatt’s fire in Mt Prospect, 1977 (pt2)

Mar 22

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department History, Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 1 Comment

Images from Larry Shapiro on one extremely cold Sunday in February of 1977 at the 4th Alarm Goldblatt’s fire in Mount Prospect.

Mount Prospect Snorkel working at the Goldblatt’s fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Glenbrook FPD Snorkel in the rear of the Goldblatt’s store in 1977. Larry Shapiro photo

Another shot of the Glenbrook FPD Snorkel in the rear of the Goldblatt’s store in 1977. Larry Shapiro photo

A canvas tarp was used to protect parts of the unit from the water spray that subsequently froze. Larry Shapiro photo

Glenbrook Snorkel shown with two Mount Prospect engines in their former yellow and white colors. Larry Shapiro photo

Mount Prospect Snorkel working at the Goldblatt’s fire. Larry Shapiro photo

The Glenbrook FPD was a recent name change for the Glenview Rural FPD seen on the Snorkel boom. Larry Shapiro photo

Mount Prospect Snorkel working at the Goldblatt’s fire. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: 75' Snorkel, Aero Chief, American LaFrance 900 Series Aero Chief 90, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, big fire in bitter cold weather, department store fire, fire trucks at fire scene, firefighters working at fire scene, Ford/Pierce/Snorkel, Glenbrook Fire Department, Glenbrook Fire Protection District, Goldblatts fire in 1977, historic fire photos, large winter fire, Larry Shapiro, Mount Prospect FIre Department, photos of fire fighters working, photos of fire trucks at fire scene, Randhurst shopping center fire, Snorkel fire apparatus, Snorkel fire truck at big fire

Historic fire: Goldblatt’s fire in Mt Prospect, 1977 (pt1)

Mar 21

Posted by Admin in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 8 Comments

This from Drew Smith:

These are from the Goldblatt’s fire at Central and Rand Roads in Mount Prospect on Sunday, February 6, 1977 ( think I said it was 1976 in the earlier comment) and shows both Glenbrook’s and MP’s Snorkels in operation. The GB Snorkel is before they sent it to Pierce for the new cab and chassis with it’s yellow paint.

Thought I had a picture of Rolling Meadow’s Snorkel at the race track but can’t find it.

Just came across this page which shows a ¾ shot of RM and Libertyville snorkels. http://yngfire.com/index.php?topic=2952.0

Drew Smith

Deputy Chief

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District

Drew Smith archives

Larry Shapiro submitted images of the Snorkel units mentioned.

Glenbrook FPD 1968 Ford/Pierce 75′ Snorkel before the rehab. Larry Shapiro photo

Glenbrook Snorkel 8 received an enclosed Pierce Arrow cab and new paint scheme in 1986. Larry Shapiro photo

Mount Prospect Truck 2 was a 1964 American LaFrance 900 Series 90′ Aero Chief Snorkel with a 1,000-GPM pump. Larry Shapiro photo

Rolling Meadows 1970 American LaFrance 90′ 1000 Series Aero Chief Snorkel 630 had a 1,000-GPM pump. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: 65' Snorkel, American LaFrance 1000 Series Aero Chief 90, American LaFrance 900 Series Aero Chief 90, American LaFrance Aero Chief Snorkel, Deputy Chief Drew Smith, Ford/Pierce/Snorkel, Glenbrook Fire Department, Glenbrook Fire Protection District, Glenview Rural Fire Protection District, Goldblatts fire in 1977, historic fire photos, Pierce Arrow Snorkel, Rolling Meadows Fire Department

Where are they now …

Dec 2

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Truck photos, Reader submission | 6 Comments

This from Martin Nowak: more X-Illinois fire trucks in Indiana

1976 Sutphen Pumper; purchased from Bourbonnais IL in 1990 by the Shirley Vol FD

1983 PemFab/E-one 95ft Aerial Ladder was purchased by Cambridge City Vol FD in 2002 from Gurnee, IL

Pump 101 2000 HME/Smeal; was purchased by Poe FD from Coal City IL. All rigs at Poe carry the orange color that Coal City carries

Truck 23; 1972 American LaFrance Aero Chief 90′ Snorkel served Mattoon, IL, then St. John, IN, and now Shelby Vol FD

Engine 5812; 1975 Mack CF685 pumper served Winfield FPD IL before the Lake Dalecarlia Vol FD

Rescue 862; 1994 Freightliner FL60/Wheeled Coach was a former Evanston Ambulance that was purchased in 2004 by Kingsbury Volunteer FD

East Chicago has two of the six units that were ordered by the City of Chicago in 2001 ( 2001 American LaFrance Eagle/3D Pumpers) They serve as Engine-1 and Engine-4 Only one stayed in Chicago as E-23. The other three were repainted and went to Baltimore County, Maryland where they served as Engine-2, Engine-4, and Engine-6.