Posts Tagged historic fire truck photos

Chicago Fire Department History

Apr 6

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus | 15 Comments

This from Steve Redick:

A classic image from my dad. I believe he took this when assigned to snorkel 4 at 25’s house, then at the academy. Notice the bell cutout in the grill. Don’t know the identity of these companies.

Another great shot Tower & Pressure 3 taken at a fire at 62 & Stony Island

Warren Redick photo

vintage Chicago fire trucks and water tower

Warren Redick photo

Another coupla shots …

Eng 48’s Pirsch taken at what was Engine 16 at 40th & Dearborn

High Pressure 1 across from Eng 1

These are great shots

Warren Redick photo

vintage photo of Chicago FD Pressure Wagon 1 fire engine

Warren Redick photo

Some additional notes from Mike K:

Great picture of Engine 48. When I started my career at Engine 19, we had an identical pumper. The rough ride of the back step on these old Pirsches force me to switch from Boxer shorts to Jockey shorts. Actally, when this picture was taken, the firehouse shown at 4005 S. Dearborn was not Engine 16’s quarters. It was Engine 48’s house. Engine 16 was located at 31st and Dearborn and the property was purchased by Illinois Institute of Technology and engine 16 was doubled up with Engine 48 at 4005 S. Dearborn.

One of my Captain’s at Engine 19 was Captain of Engine 48 at that time and after repeated complaints to Commissioner Quinn that the single door firehouse was too small for two pumpers, he finally agreed. Thus, he ordered Engine 48 removed from service and gave the house to Engine 16. Captain Fletcher Thompson won his position, but found himself without a company to command.

After losing his assignment at Engine 48, he became Captain of Engine 45 until transferring to Engine 19 about a year after I was assigned there.

I’m not sure if Steve Redick is aware of the fact that 4005 Dearborn was originally Engine 48’s quarters, but his comment gives me the impression that Engine 48 was the “guest” at Engine 16.

Mike K

Tags: antique Chicago fire trucks, Chicago Fire Department history, Chicago Fire Department water tower, historic fire truck photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick, Warren Redick

A historical look at EMA/ESDA vehicle

Oct 19

Posted by Admin in Historic fire apparatus | 8 Comments

This from Brian Murphy:

The following pictures were taken in the early and mid-1990s, and show various EMA and ESDA support vehicles. Most were either ‘home built’ by volunteers using part or whole former fire apparatus, or were donated former fire apparatus. Many of these rigs had long second lives supporting FD and PD operations (and some are most likely still in service). All pictures were taken with various small 35mm cameras (no digital, just old-fashioned photographs).

Comments and details on missing info are welcomed- enjoy!

Brian Murphy

P1- Bellwood ESDA 1960s (?) Mack light/power squad (exact details NA, most likely x-Bellwood FD)

P2- Naperville EMA Truck 357 (x-NFD late 70’s Chevy ambo chassis built into lighting/power unit) and Truck 352 (x-NFD/Civil Defense late 60’s GMC Step Van rescue unit)

P3- Naperville EMA Truck 351 (late 80’s or early 90’s Dodge Ram Van, x-Naperville Public Works truck)

P4- Naperville EMA Truck 357, Lighting and Power Unit

P5- Wood Dale ESDA Squad 3 (x-WFD Rescue Squad, details NA)

P6- Buffalo Grove ESDA IC&C Unit (probably x-BGFD Ambo, details NA)

P7- DuPage County EMA IC&C Unit (details NA)

P8- DuPage County EMA Power and Lighting Unit (details NA)

P9- DuPage County EMA Power and Lighting Unit, side/rear view

P10- Rolling Meadows ESDA Rescue Squad (details NA, probably x-RMFD Rescue Squad)

P11- McHenry County ESDA ESDA-52, IC&C Unit (details NA)

P12- Kane County OEM Light/Power Unit (details NA)

Bellwood ESDA 1960s (?) Mack light/power squad (exact details NA, most likely x-Bellwood FD). Brian Murphy photo

Naperville EMA Truck 357 (x-NFD late 70’s Chevy ambo chassis built into lighting/power unit) and Truck 352 (x-NFD/Civil Defense late 60’s GMC Step Van rescue unit) Brian Murphy photo

Naperville EMA Truck 351 (late 80’s or early 90’s Dodge Ram Van, x-Naperville Public Works truck). Brian Murphy photo

Naperville EMA Truck 357, Lighting and Power Unit. Brian Murphy photo

Wood Dale ESDA Squad 3 (x-WFD Rescue Squad, details NA). Brian Murphy photo

Buffalo Grove ESDA IC&C Unit (probably x-BGFD Ambo, details NA). Brian Murphy photo

DuPage County EMA IC&C Unit (details NA). Brian Murphy photo

DuPage County EMA Power and Lighting Unit (details NA). Brian Murphy photo

DuPage County EMA Power and Lighting Unit, side/rear view. Brian Murphy photo

Rolling Meadows ESDA Rescue Squad (details NA, probably x-RMFD Rescue Squad). Brian Murphy photo

McHenry County ESDA ESDA-52, IC&C Unit (details NA). Brian Murphy photo

Kane County OEM Light/Power Unit (details NA). Brian Murphy photo

Tags: Brian Murphy, Buffalo Grove ESDA, DuPage County EMA, EMA vehicles, ESDA vehicles, historic fire truck photos, historic fire truck pictures, Kane County OEM, McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, Naperville EMA, Rolling Meadows ESDA, Wood Dale ESDA

A historical review …

Sep 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, Historic Fire Photo | 2 Comments

From Steve Redick:

I cranked up the wayback machine for a long overdue session….Here’s a shot I believe I may have gotten from Chuck Madderom. A very rare image of the famous Snorkel Squad 3 operating with a Snorkel. I have no info on this location or date, but I LOVE this shot. This is the same rig, the original Snorkel, that was restored by ALF back in the 90’s. As many of you already know my dad was the captain of this company, and I did ride on one of the foam pressures a coupla times when I lived on Erie Street. That house is now gone too.

photographer unknown

Here’s a good old fire fan photo. A still alarm 59th & Lafayette or Lasalle maybe even Perry … not sure now … mid 70’s … fire venting out the side and a truckman holding the door shut after forcing it while the engine leads out. My dad is visible in the white helmet on the right side of the photo. I rode in the 12th battalion buggy to this job. Typical fire in the old 12th battalion in those days.

Steve Redick photo

Don’t remember the date for this next one, but I was coming home from some tavern and took this in. Probably about 0300 or so, I’m thinking the late 80s. This was a pretty well known restaurant if I remember right..can anyone add more info?

Steve Redick photo

Let’s look at one more. Detroit lost 3 members in a major warehouse fire back in March 1987. This cartoon appeared in the paper the next day. I thought so much of it I bought a lithograph of it from the paper. This has always been a touching image for me.

Steve

Tags: historic fire scene photos, historic fire truck photos, historic fire truck pictures, historic truck photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick, Warren Redick

Tinley Park updates

Aug 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Truck photos | 11 Comments

This from Kevin Griffin:

Engine 211 was renumbered 213 and had a logo added

fire department emblem

TInley Park Engine 213. Kevin Griffin photo

Tags: fire department emblem, historic fire truck photos, Kevin Griffin, Tinley Park Fire Department

Bedford Park selling antique Snorkel

Aug 2

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | 14 Comments

This from Larry Shapiro:

It appears that the Bedford Park Fire Department was not successful in finding a buyer for the 1959 GMC/Pierce/Snorkel. Recent information was that it would go to a scrap dealer.

I visited last week and took some photos to remember the Snorkel.

final days of historic Snorkel fire truck

Bedford Park’s original Snorkel as it currently rests behind station 1. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

1st Snorkel fire truck built for the fire service

Bedford Park FD Truck 712, 1959 GMC/Pierce 55′ Snorkel. Larry Shapiro photo

And the DesPlaines Valley News has an article …

There’s a story that former Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Quinn invented the Snorkel fire truck in 1958 by running a hose up a cherry picker truck and pumping water down onto a fire.

While the first snorkel [was a] converted vehicle, ~~GMC~~ [Pierce] produced the first original Snorkel fire truck in 1959 for the Chicago Fire Department.

“For some reason, they did not purchase it and it wound up in Bedford Park,” said Bedford Park Fire Chief Sean Maloy. “I’m told Bedford Park got a good deal on it.”
For the next 20 years, Bedford Park firefighters used the GMC Snorkel to battle fires and drive in parades.

“In 1980, we gave it to public works for use as a work truck,” Maloy said. “About 15 years ago, they stopped using it.” The truck sat for years in a Public Works parking lot.

Eventually, firefighters decided they wanted to restore the vintage piece of firefighting equipment.

“We had it towed to the fire yard. We wanted to restore it,” Maloy said. “We set aside $30,000. We wanted to make it pretty for parades.”

Then the other shoe dropped.

“We had it evaluated,” Maloy said. “We found out it needed a lot of body work and a new engine just to make it able to run.” He said the needed repairs would have doubled the cost of restoring the snorkel. “We decided it wouldn’t be a prudent use of another $30,000 that would have to come from the village,” he said.

Reluctantly, the village sought bids for the truck. There were no takers. “We were asking for $5,000,” he said. “I wish I could have had a collector come in and grab it. Unless someone comes in to take it, a piece of history will be going to the scrap yard. I’ll hate to see it go.”

Maloy said he’s in no hurry to junk the vintage apparatus and is willing to hold onto the truck for a little while longer.

“I’ll leave it here until about October,” he said. “After that it’s going to the junk heap. I’d probably take a dollar if someone offered to take it off my hands,” he said with a joke.

Anyone interested in acquiring the snorkel should contact Maloy at the Bedford Park Fire Department. His number is 708-563-4510

Thanks Dan

Tags: 1959 GMC/Pierce/ Pitman Snorkel 65, Bedford Park Fire Chief Sean Maloy, Bedford Park Fire Department, Bedford Park Fire Department history, Chicago Fire Dept, Chief Sean Maloy, Dennis McGuire, fire department history, fire truck for sale, fire truck photos, first ever Pitman Snorkel, GMC Pitman Snorkel, GMC/Snorkel for sale, historic fire truck photos, historic truck photos, Jr, Karl Klotz, Larry Shapiro, old fire truck rescued from outside yard, Pitman Company

Dixmoor shuts down their fire department (more)

Dec 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | 7 Comments

A historic look at apparatus over the years from the Dixmoor Fire Department.

Dixmoor Engine 2443, a 1992 Spartan/Luverne 1500/500 formerly from the Chicago Fire Department. It carries CFD shop ID# D-523. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Dixmoor Engine 2433 is a 2003 E-ONE Typhoon 1250/1000. (SN 127675). Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Dixmoor Engine 2453, a 1971 Mack CD 1250/750 formerly from Homewood, Illinois. George Reichardt photo

Dixmoor Squad 2405. photographer unkown

Former Dixmoor Engine 4, a 1973 American LaFrance 10000 Series 1250/750 fire engine. (SN C-12-358) photographer unknown

Dixmoor Squad 1, a 1969 Chevy Step Van. Gary Kadzielewski photo

Former Dixmoor Engine 2, a 1953 Chevrolet 500/300. photographer unknown

Former Dixmoor Engine 1, a 1954 Chevy/Central (st Louis) 500/500. photographer unknown

thanks Dennis

Tags: American LaFrance 1000 Series engine, Dennis McGuire Jr., Dixmoor dissolves fire department, Dixmoor to shutdown fire department, E-ONE Typhoon fire engine, fire engine photos, fire truck pictures, George Reichardt, historic fire truck photos, historic fire truck pictures, historic truck photos, last day for fire department, Mack CF fire engine, photos documenting last day of fire department, Spartan Luverne fire engine donated from the Chicago Fire Department, white fire trucks

Dixmoor shuts down their fire department (more)

Dec 24

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News, Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos, Historic fire apparatus | Comments off

More from Dennis McGuire, Jr. who visited the Dixmoor Fire Department on December 1, 2013 when the department was formally shut down. He submitted a few images from that morning along with a video clip. Dennis also provided a historic overview of their most recent and past apparatus which will follow tomorrow.

Past and present members one last time. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Taking down old glory. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Running board with all companies out of service. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

The fire department after being shut down. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Closed for business. Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Previous posts about this closing can be found HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

The final video … 20131201_Dixmoor

Tags: Dennis McGuire Jr., Dixmoor dissolves fire department, Dixmoor Fire Department, Dixmoor Fire Department history, Dixmoor Fire Department shuttered, Dixmoor to shutdown fire department, final salute to fire department after 85 years, historic fire truck photos, historic fire truck pictures, historic truck photos

Down memory lane … North Maine FPD

Dec 7

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

These images are from the archives of Steve Redick

Steve Redick photo

Tags: historic fire truck photos, North Maine Fire Protection District, old fire engine photos, Seagrave fire engine picture, Steve Redick, Ward LaFrance Ambassador, Ward laFrance fire engine photos, Ward laFrance Grove ladder truck picture

Elk Grove Village FD history

Nov 9

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 10 Comments

A reader has asked for information and specs corresponding to the 1970s series Oshkosh/Pierce/Snorkel that saw service in Elk Grove Village.

Elk Grove Village Fire Department history

Elk Grove Village Fire Department Snorkel.

thanks Scott for supplying the photo

The following is a reprint from a local newspaper when the unit was delivered:

Elk Grove Village Fire Department history

Some will notice that;

the chassis is indicated to be from FWD, but the cab appears to match the Oshkosh units which saw service in Chicago.
the year is not indicated
there’s no mention of a water tank

Tags: 75' Snorkel, Elk Grove Village Fire Department, Elk Grove Village Fire Department history, fire truck picture, historic fire truck photos, Snorkel fire truck

Bedford Park FD history – the original Pitman Snorkel

Oct 31

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 8 Comments

Larry Shapiro photo

Karl Klotz visited the Bedford Park Fire Department and spoke with Chief Sean Maloy about the restoration project that they have underway of their 1959 Snorkel.

The unit is a 1959 GMC/Pierce/ 65′ Pitman Snorkel. This was the first Pitman Snorkel built. It was designed for the Chicago Fire Dept, but refused due to the overall length and tandem axle. The Bedford Park Fire Department made an offer and subsequently purchased the vehicle.

Bill Freidrich collection

Snorkel 5 (later re-numbered 712) entered service in Bedford Park in 1959 and served until 1979 when it was replaced by the Seagrave Snorkel 705.

Jack Connors photo

In 1979, it was passed down to the public works department where it was used by the street light division until approximately 1995. From that point on, it sat in the back parking lot of public works unused.

Currently it is sitting inside Bedford Park Station 1, where it is in the process of a complete overhaul. Mechanical work is being performed by the fire department mechanical staff in house. After completion of the mechanical work, it is slated to go to Automotive Mentoring Group (AMG) for body repair and refinishing.

Karl Klotz photo

The project is being funded in part by the BPFD Foreign Fire Board and the Village of Bedford Park.

From another reader:

“Hey recently, I visited Bedford Park Station #1 and observed a work of love in progress. The Bedford Park Fire Department finally brought home their very first Snorkel, which has been left outside their public works yard rotting away for over 20 years, to start a desperately needed refurbishing. Some mechanical work will be performed in-house with bodywork to be completed at a local business. For those that do not know, this Snorkel is of historical significance, as it was the very first Snorkel actually produced by the Pitman Company for the fire service. It is rumored that this Snorkel was spec’d out by the late Chicago Commissioner Quinn only to be rejected because of it’s overly long wheelbase, which would’ve proved too difficult to maneuver around the city streets. Bedford Park jumped at the chance and purchased it. Snorkel 5 is a 1960 GMC chassis with a V8 gas engine and manual transmission with a Pierce body.”