This is an example of an older listing which can be found on the Public Building Commission of Chicago website.
Hank Sajovic passed along another link to the Public Building Commission of Chicago that outlines fire station projects going back to the 1970s. For those interested in some facts and dates on several houses in the city, follow the link HERE.
Some of the listings found on the Public Building Commission of Chicago website include photos for the older buidlings.
In a previous post HERE, we outlined the variations in CFD fire house designs built under the Alive 21 program. The stations built were for Engines 18, 38, 63, 70, 84, 88, 102, 121, Air/Sea Rescue, and Engine 109 which has not yet been completed. Some of the differences that were highlighted included two similar designs that differed by the inclusion of a hose tower, the roof line, and the amount of glass along the top of the apparatus bays. A third design is being implemented for Engine 109’s new house and a new house for Engine 16. The building for Engine 16 though begins what the City of Chicago Public Building Commission (PBC) is calling the first of the ‘Prototype B’ engine company houses (which is confusing because the house for Engine 109 is the same design).
Square footage for each house varies depending exactly on the individual needs of the companies assigned. Ranging from 14,000 square feet for Engine 102’s house to 18,000 square feet for Engine 121’s house, the differences incorporate the office space, meeting space, and training spaces allocated to each facility. Engine 16’s new house will have 18,500 square feet of space which includes Haz-mat unit operations with associated storage and EMS Field Division South offices.
The site sign depicting the new house for Engine 109.
When the Alive 21 program began, the rear entry to the three apparatus bays included only two doors that are both wider than a single sized door. These designs are in effect for the stations of Engines 38, 63, 84, and 88.
The rear apparatus bay doors of Engine 63's house shows the original two-door design. Steve Redick photo
A design change then altered this to incorporate three single width bay doors at the rear of the apparatus bays matching the three doors on the front of the bays. Houses for Engines 18, 70, 102, and 121 were each built with three doors at the rear of the apparatus bays.
Engine 121's house shows the updated design which features three bays doors on both sides of the apparatus bays. Hank Sajovic photo
The Chicago Public Building Commission website has links to the Fire Station projects HERE for the completed houses and HERE for the two active projects. The links for the two current projects include galleries of site photos chronicling the progress of each job.
The house for Engine 88 at 3637 W. 59th Street has the hose tower. Karl Klotz photo
The design for Engine 102 at 7340 N. Clark Street is without a hose tower. Larry Shapiro photo
Engine 121's house is at 1700 W. 95th Street. The apron design here has different landscaping along the driveway with a large grassy area unlike other houses with more concrete immediately outside the apparatus bays. This house also has the large solar panels on the roof. Hank Sajovic photo
Hank Sajovic points out that at one point the ‘front’ of the building was reversed for Engine 84’s house since the apparatus exits their building to the west even though the watch room is on the east side. All of the stations were built to have the ‘front’ on the left hand side of the building when viewed straight-on from the street, facing the flag poles.
Apparatus in Engine 84's house runs out of the east side of the building, opposite of the side with the watch room. Hank Sajovic photo
Construction has begun for the new house at 53 E. Pershing Road that will be home to Engine 16, Ambulance 35, EMS Field Division South, and 5-1-1. The site has been cleared of the former warehouse and basement. Foundation work is underway with preparations for the footings.
The sign at the construction site for Engine 16's new firehouse that is underway. Hank Sajovic photo
This house has several notable differences in design than most of the other recent houses, although it appears to match the new house for Engine 109 at 2343 S. Kedzie Avenue.
The sign at the construction site for Engine 109's new house depicts the same rendering as for Engine 16. Hank Sajovic photo
An artist's rendering illustrating the new houses for Engine 16 and Engine 109.
The shape of these two new houses is squared off with lots of glass. The roof of the apparatus bays is flat where the others have an angled awning type roof. There is also different brick trim along the top of the brick walls and glass along the interior of the house instead of it being all brick. This house has a squared hose tower, and although several of the other stations lack one, the hose tower is rounded where they have been built. The new stations also have both horizontal and vertical windows as opposed to all The shape is squared off where others have an angled awning above the apparatus bays and different brick trim along the top of the brick walls. This house will have a hose tower though some of the others do not.windows previously.
Engine 18's house at 1360 S. Blue Island Avenue has much less glass in the design than the newer stations. This building also features the angled awning-like roof over the apparatus bays. Hank Sajovic photo
This house at 21 W. 59th Street is home to Engine 84, Truck 51, Ambulance 36, and Deputy District 5. This building has a rounded hose tower which differs from the square design for Engine 16 and Engine 109. Hank Sajovic photo
This house in the 9th Battalion is known as the 'Full House' since it is home to Engine 59, Engine 70, Truck 47, Ambulance 13 and Battalion 9. Located at 6030 N. Clark Street, it has no hose tower and a much smaller footprint on the 'front' end when compared to Engine 18's house. Hank Sajovic photo
The stations that have a hose tower also have a conventional door built into the overhead door in the apparatus bay closest to the street.
Engine 63's house at 1440 E. 67th Street has the rounded hose tower like Engine 84's house. This design also has more glass above the apparatus bays when compared to the stations without the hose towers. Hank Sajovic photo
The house at 3949 W. 16th Street which is home to Engine 38, Truck 48, and Deputy District 2 matches in style to the other buildings with the hose tower and the awning roof. Hank Sajovic photo
Hank Sajovic sent this historical reminder:
Brothers and Sisters.
Please remember the other members of the Chicago Fire Department killed in the line of duty on December 22nd. (this is in addition to the 21 in 1910)
1952 Fireman 1C Patrick Rochford Engine 82 Heart attack in quarters
1960 Battalion Chief Michael Lynch Battalion 10 (Engine 19) fell thru pole hole
1989 Fireman Kelvin Anderson Engine 107 Building Collapse Rose of Sharon Church 2950 W. Warren Blvd
Dec 20
Hank Sajovic took in a Still and Box Alarm today at 4235 W. Madison. Arriving companies were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions from the two-story building which houses a mosque. Four lines were used and there was a partial collapse in the rear. The fire was contained to the building of origin which had exposures on either side of a furniture store to the east and a liquor store on the west. Engine 113, 117, and 95 lead out. Truck 26 was to the roof in sector 1 along with Tower Ladder 14.
Of notable mention at this fire was the response of 5-1-5, the new Special Operations Battalion Chief which went into service effective December 17, 2010.
Engine 113 was the box engine to 4235 W. Madison today for fire in a commercial occupancy. Hank Sajovic photo
Engine 113 went to a hydrant across Madison Street for a supply line. There is a hydrant immediately opposite the engine, but both engines 95 and 117 were using it. Hank Sajovic photo
Tower 14's basket was put to the second floor to assist with overhaul. Hank Sajovic photo
A new position created in the past week in Chicago is 5-1-5, a Special Operations Battalion Chief. The buggy seen here with shop id B-545 is a 2010 Ford Expedition. Hank Sajovic photo
Looking east on Madison Street is the Air Mask Unit and the communication van. Hank Sajovic photo
Dec 17
Hank Sajovic took in an alley garage fire in Summit this evening at 6059 74th Court. They had to dal with frozen hydrants before being able to deploy three lines on the fire.
Here are some images from the scene
Summit firefighters approach the involved alley garage and prepare to hit the fire. Hank Sajovic photo
As firefighters get water on the fire, the roof of the garage and the door have collapsed. Hank Sajovic photo
A firefighter stands ready to begin oerhaul when the flames have been extinguished. Hank Sajovic photo
Summit firefighters move in closer to extinguish fire in the rear of the garage after they have they knocked down the main body of fire. Hank Sajovic photo
Nov 19
Hank Sajovic has posted a complete gallery with almost 800 images that he took at the 2-11 in Oak Lawn on Wednesday. Click HERE to view the gallery.
Nov 17
updated with more photos at 11:45PM
Oak Lawn pulled a 2-11 late this afternoon for fire in a strip mall on 95th Street. Hank Sajovic was on the scene within minutes and submitted several terrific images of the buildings before companies got water to the front. The shots depict firefighters in the rear where the fire was discovered at Eva’s Bridal Shop and then the progression of heavy smoke and fire out the front on 95th Street as the fire spread to the Radio Shack next door.
Firefighters advance lines in the rear of Eva's Bridal Shop in Oak Lawn as heavy smoke pushes out of the windows. Hank Sajovic photo
Another view from the rear of the strip mall shows the wide spread of the fire. Hank Sajovic photo
The view down a barren 95th Street as smoke escapes from the front of the building. Hank Sajovic photo
Smoke and fire are now visible along 95th Street prior to fire companies going to work. Hank Sajovic photo
Chief officers communicate with fire companies in preparation of a defensive attack. Hank Sajovic photo
Fire companies can be seen preparing to put a Chicago Ridge tower ladder to work as the fire intensifies and takes hold of the neighboring Radio Shack as well. Hank Sajovic photo
Roberts Park firefighters ready another aerial for master stream operations. Hank Sajovic photo
Firefighters stretch hose lines to attack the fire from 95th Street. Hank Sajovic photo
Two elevated master streams plus several handlines darken the fire stopping the spread to additional units. Hank Sajovic photo
There is more coverage of the fire plus videos HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
The Oak Lawn Fire Department stations and apparatus can be seen HERE.
Heavy fire can be seen now in the Radio Shack store to the east of the bridal shop. Hank Sajovic photo
The Roberts Park FD Pierce aerial is seen deployed on the east end of the 'A' sector. Hank Sajovic photo
The facade has caved in on the original fire unit. Chicago Ridge firefighters sweep their master stream into the single story structure from a low angle just above the street. Hank Sajovic photo
A closeup of the Chicago Ridge E-ONE tower ladder working in front of the building. Hank Sajovic photo
Chicago Ridge Fire Department Tower 6504 is setup on 95th Street in Sector 'A' directly in front of the fire building. Hank Sajovic photo
Roberts Park purchased this 2008 Pierce 100' aluminum aerial that was used on the show 'Rescue Me'. Hank Sajovic photo
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
