Posts Tagged Jack Connors

CFD Reserve Squad

Apr 12

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 14 Comments

There has been a thread with several comments lately about the current status of Engine 23’s previous rig, the 2000 American LaFrance Eagle engine which is in the spare fleet. We learned from several readers that the pump had been removed and replaced with a large compartment to enable this to be run as a spare squad piece. Jack Connors found this reserve squad unit recently running as the second piece for Squad 5 and he was able to grab a few shots of it when they were on a run. He submitted the shots so that all could see just what the unit looks like. This carries shop #D572.

Chicago Fire Department reserve squad X-engine 23

The new Chicago Fire Department spare rescue unit that was formerly Engine 23's 2000 American LaFrance engine. This photo shows a roll-up compartment door where the pump enclosure used to be. Jack Connors photo

Chicago Fire Department reserve squad Engine 23 American LaFrance Eagle

The officer's side of the new reserve squad unit shows the transverse compartment in place of the pump module. Otherwise it doesn't appear that there are any other changes. Jack Connors photo

Tim Olk also ran across this rig at a 2-11 Alarm fire at 118th and Yale.

Squad 5 was working at a 2-11 at 118th and Yale when Tim Olk grabbed this shot of the new reserve squad piece running as their spare. Tim Olk photo

Tags: American LaFrance Eagle, Chicago Engine 23, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago reserve squad, Chicago Squad 5, Jack Connors, Steve Redick, Tim Olk

South Chicago Heights is added to the site

Jan 25

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Listing, Site News | Comments off

The second department in MABAS Division 27 has been added. South Chicago Heights, a single station department that covers 1.5 square miles operates two ambulances and two engines. Ambulances are from Wheeled Coach and Osage. Engines are from Crimson and American LaFrance (before it was bought by Freightliner). This is one of the few departments in the area operating a Type II style ambulance. Images were provided by Jack Connors.

South Chicago Heights Fire Department station

The South Chicago Heights station at 2729 Jackson Avenue. Jack Connors photo

South Chicago Heights Fire Department Type II ambulance

South Chicago Heights Fire Department American LaFrance Century pumper

Tags: American LaFrance, Century Series, Crimson, Freightliner, Jack Connors, MABAS Division 27, Osage, South Chicago Heights Fire Department, Type II ambulance, Wheeled Coach

Country Club Hills has been added to the site

Jan 23

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News, New Listing | 2 Comments

Country Club Hills has been added to the MABAS Division 24 departments that are on the website. Country Club Hills has two stations with a total of three ambulances, four engines, and a tower ladder. One of their engines, Engine 1140, is a 1980 American LaFrance Century, 75′ Water Chief Quint with a 1,500-GPM pump and 300 gallons of water. It is lettered as Truck 1140, but the aerial device is out of service, so it is running as an engine. Country Club Hills also owns the only HME/Ahrens-Fox/RK Aerials tower ladder in Illinois.

Country Club Hills Fire Department Spartan Crimson engine

This engine was featured at a fire recently which was posted HERE with images from Karl Klotz.

Country Club Hills Fire Department Station 2 is their headquarters at 4520 W. 175th Street. Jack Connors photo

Country Club Hills Fire Department HME Ahrens Fox RK tower ladder

Country Club Hills Fire Department American LaFrance Century Water Chief Quint

When American LaFrance made aerials, each rear-mount was part of the ‘Chief’ series. There was the Ladder Chief, the Ladder Chief Quint, the Water Chief, the Water Chief Quint, and the Aero Chief. The Aero Chief was a two-piece articulating boom with a platform at the end, similar to the Snorkel.

American LaFrance Water Chief quint brochure

American LaFrance literature on the 75' Water Chief Quint. Larry Shapiro collection

A Water Chief was an aerial ladder with a pre-piped waterway while the Ladder Chief was a straight ladder.

American LaFrance Ladder Chief brochure. Larry Shapiro collection

American LaFrance Water Chief brochure. Larry Shapiro collection

Either aerial could be mounted on a unit with a pump and tank for the quint designation.

American LaFrance brochure 75' Water Chief Quint

American LaFrance 75' Water Chief Quint brochure. Larry Shapiro collection

Few of the ‘Chief’ aerials are still in service today.

Tags: Aero Chief, American LaFrance, American LaFrance brochure, Century Series, Country Club Hills Fire Department, Jack Connors, Karl Klotz, Ladder Chief, Ladder Chief Quint, Larry Shapiro, MABAS Division 21, Snorkel, Water Chief, Water Chief Quint

Burnham is on the website

Jan 19

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Listing, Site News | Comments off

The Burnham Volunteer Fire Department in MABAS Division 24 has been added to the website. Burnham covers just under a 1.5 square miles with 30 volunteers. They have two engines and a brush rig.

Burnham Fire Department station at 1401 Hoxie Avenue. Jack Connors photo

Tags: Ahrens Fox, Burnham Fure Department, Burnham Volunteer Fire Department, fire station, HME Spectr, Jack Connors, MABAS Division 24

website updates

Jan 19

Posted by bgshap in Fire Service News | Comments off

Several images in the website have been updated in Chicago:

3rd District: 5-1-2 has been moved to Rescue 1 at O’Hare
4th District: Battalion 13‘s new buggy has been added; Ambulance 21‘s new unit has been added
5th District: Ambulance 36 has been added
6th District: Truck 45 has been added

Photographs are From Jack Connors, Dan McInerney, and Dennis McGuire, Jr.

Chicago Fire Department Truck 45

Chicago Fire Department Ambulance 21

Tags: Dan McInerney, Dennis McGuire Jr., Jack Connors

Classic engine at Darien-Woodridge

Nov 18

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | Comments off

On Tuesday, we mentioned the addition of the Darien-Woodridge Fire District to the site. One of the engines that was posted along with the apparatus at Station 2 is an unusual antique with a long history. Jack Connors has provided us with information about the engine as well as a few photos.

The engine is a 1949 Oshkosh/Howe with a 1,000-GPM pump and a 1,200-gallon tank. The Oshkosh chassis is an Oshkosh Model W-2201 carrying serial number 3541. The Howe serial number is HR-10-7961.

This image shows the 1949 Oshkosh Howe engine as lettered for the Belmont Fire District. Jack Connors collection

This engine first saw service at the Argonne National Laboratory, in Argonne, IL. Next it went to Grandview Park, IL which was annexed by Oak Lawn. It was then used by the Belmont Fire District which became part of the Darien-Woodridge Fire District.

Darien Woodridge Belmont Fire District Oshkosh Howe engine

The engine currently has a Darien-Woodridge Fire District decal replacing the Belmont Fire Protection District name on the door. The Belmont name still resides on the hood. Jack Connors collection

Tags: Argonne National Laboratory, Belmont Fire District, Darien-Woodridge FPD, Grandview Park, Howe, Jack Connors, Oak Lawn, Oshkosh