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Here’s another classic audio recording. Tommy O’Donnell in the 13th with a few classic transmissions. Jim Lee was on the original call reporting the incident. Joe Pavlik on the radio in the FAO. 3-11 Alarm at 3819 Madison St. on 11-14-90
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I found my archive of the famous West Town gas explosions 1-17-92 at 937 N. Racine. A valve failed causing high pressure gas supply to an entire neighborhood resulting in explosions and fires over a large area. The radio traffic is pretty intense. Some of the voices I recognize in the office Dan Bull, Lee Madison, and Mike Kerr, in the field Bob Hoff Batt 6. Bob Walters Truck 19, Wally Lynch E43, Ed Fitzgerald 271, Ray Orozco JR on Truck 7, and Duke Scneider on E57.
We were at the fire Duke had and I’ll never forget he said to us at the time “there are 61 trucks in this friggin city and you can’t find me at least one?” He was on his own at a well involved factory fire. Many will also recall Bob Hoff found a fire, made rescues, drove them to the hospital, and returned back to manage that and a few other incidents. This whole event was really something to see. I was there early on with the watch from work as we were passing nearby on the way home. Unfortunately I did not have my camera.
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I opened the archives again. This fire was in a 4-11 in a huge, u-shaped apartment building at 3348 N. Central 9/9/82.Some voices: call taker FAO George Mazurek; Kenny Little dispatching the units, and those with sharp ears will recognize Roger Thompson later in the incident.I took this in and have a few images, some are a little iffy in terms of quality but worth a look. They brought the turret wagon into the courtyard but as I recall they didn’t use it. This was a tough and nasty job.Steve
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
This from Steve Redick:
Here’s another from the archives, a 3-11 Alarm fire at 2950 W. Jackson 6/5/78. From what I can tell this was an old hotel. Listen to the interesting dialogue between the office and a certain engine company when they were directed to change quarters to eng 77. They were concerned about the “canine presence”. Some classic stuff here. The main voice in the office was the late Danny Evans. There is also some radio traffic from Skokie FD in the mix too.
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5-23-82, Conrad Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Avenue:
This was quite the event. As I recall this was an arson fire set by a prostitute over a payment dispute. It could have been a disaster. Higgins was in the 1st Battalion and he always got the crazy incidents when he was working. You can hear Art Benker in the office, and also a brief appearance by “Brush Fire Bill” as the commissioner. I think I might have heard Bob Raicia (yes sir senator) in the mix as well….
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Audio recording from the first 5-11 Alarm fire at Harry’s Lumber, 6220 Northwest highway on October 19, 1990
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
4-11 Alarm fire at Z-Frank Chevrolet at 6141 N. Western Avenue in 1978. Steve Redick photo
4-11 Alarm fire at Z-Frank Chevrolet at 6141 N. Western Avenue in 1978. Steve Redick photo
4-11 Alarm fire at Z-Frank Chevrolet at 6141 N. Western Avenue in 1978. Steve Redick photo
4-11 Alarm fire at Z-Frank Chevrolet at 6141 N. Western Avenue in 1978. Steve Redick photo
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This is the radio traffic from a 3-11 alarm with a disaster plan 3 at the notorious 6531 Lowe. This occurred while my dad was chief in the 12th battalion … first thing in the morning. The chief he normally relieved, Bill Foran was acting in the big buggy and had not yet been relieved so he was responding as the division marshal. The captain of truck 20, who had some classic radio replies was Richard Fitzpatrick. The voice of the englewood office was Harry Haddon back in his heyday. This building had super long hallways, masks were barely in use at this time and the people were hanging out all over the place. This was a real dandy.
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Standing in the window are Bill Conroy Lt Eng 84 and Dave Bukiema Lt t51. Steve Redick photo
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January 16, 1967
This was arguably the most famous alarm in recent history. At one point the commissioner asked for any and every available company. Rumor has it some engine companies drafting from the frozen lake were nearly submerged. Many stories abound from this event. There are very few photos of this that are in the public domain.
Steve
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
Warren Redick collection
This from Steve Redick:
This one is a real classic and there is a good story to go with it.The fire was in January 1981, it was at the Pavilion Apartments, 5431 N East River Rd. I was on the job less than a year at the time and I lived in the building, 2 floors above the fire. I was still big into fire fanning back then and was riding Schaumburg Truck 1 that day. Around dinner time, one of the members asked me “say don’t you live in that big hi-rise joint on river rd? The city has a 2-11 going on, 5431 I think.” Now I have spent many days and nights in various firehouses over the years and I know how the “fan” is fair game for all kinds of jokes so I smiled and said ‘yeah right’… whereupon the member said “hey I’m not kidding, its a bad fire in your building”, and I said something to the effect of ‘ya think I was born yesterday??!!!!’ He said ok suit yourself and I thought nothing more about it.We were all sitting around the table eating and watching the news … guess what I saw on TV … fire blowing out 2 floors below my unit and impinging on my balcony!!! Holy Crap!!!! I just about choked on my pork chop. The previously mentioned member said something to the effect of “I told ya so you stubborn german *&%*&$!!!!” A lesson learned. When I returned home the next morning (you didn’t expect me to give up a night at the firehouse did ya?) my poor cat was shell shocked and my whole apartment was covered in soot. I saw some boot prints on my door from the search team too. The end result was a good cleanup and all was well.A few comments about the voices you will hear on the tape. The fire alarm guy for most of the fire was Al Andersen. He and I came on the job together, and he has long since retired. You also hear the gravely voice of Dick Hyland, an old boss and senior operator at the time … now long deceased. You can also briefly hear Phil McMahon, assistant chief, also long deceased. The voice of future fire commissioner Louis Galante can be heard giving orders as 2112. Louis recently died as well.
This fire occurred under the regime of William Blair, the much disliked “transplant” from LA. He was involved in an accident enroute to the alarm as you will hear , and I don’t believe he and his driver ever made it to the alarm.
This was a real nice memory to find, but it makes me realize I’m getting toooo old for all this modern FD stuff now.
Steve
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