Posts Tagged Peter Pirsch & Sons

Chicago Fire Department history

#chicagoareafire.com; #PeterPirsch; #ChicagoFD; #smokeejector; #FireTruck;

Peter Pirsch with the smoke ejector in 1931. Kenosha History Center

Excerpts from kenoshanews.com:

It would be impossible to count the number of lives saved by the use of fire engines and equipment manufactured over the years by Kenosha’s Peter Pirsch & Sons, but 92 years ago last month, Kenosha native Peter Pirsch, his employees, and a prototype from his factory were directly responsible for saving the lives of 16 men, all in one stroke.

The telephone rang in the home of Peter Pirsch at midnight on April 13, 1931. Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Michael J. Corrigan urgently needed his help.

Corrigan said that at the intersection of 22nd and Laflin Streets in Chicago, 35 feet below the surface, sewer workers of the Chicago Sanitary District were working construction on a 450 ft. sewer tunnel.

Earlier in the evening about 6:30 pm, workers were using a candle to determine the location of a leak in the tunnel when a pile of sawdust ignited. The men tried extinguishing the fire unsuccessfully for about 45 minutes before turning in a fire alarm. The first apparatus on the scene was Truck 14 and with Captain Timothy O’Neil. A thin curl of smoke was all that could be seen from the surface.

O’Neil and four firemen without breathing equipment rushed into the elevator and were lowered down to the tunnel. Three came back up 15 minutes later, with severe smoke inhalation. The smoke and gases were overpowering.

Next, men from Engine 23 went down without masks and tanks with the same result. Firefighters from the suburbs, which had better equipment, arrived with masks and tanks. They lent them to Chicago firefighters, who kept trying to rescue the growing number of people inside.

This sequence of events was repeated again and again as no one at the surface had an accurate understanding of the intensity of the fire, smoke, and gases inside the tunnel.

After hours of attempts, the construction company informed the fire chief that some of the men — missing sewer workers and firefighters — could have sealed themselves at the far end of the tunnel inside an airtight compartment.

Back on the phone to Kenosha, Corrigan wanted Pirsch to bring a new smoke ejector unit that Pirsch had in his factory. If Pirsch could bring the machine, they could pump out the smoke and fumes and the men below the surface might be saved.

The smoke ejector, basically a huge air blower, was the invention of Minneapolis Fire Chief Charles Ringer. Manufacturing rights, however, were owned by Peter Pirsch & Sons.

At that moment, a smoke ejector was sitting in the Pirsch factory. Pirsch made phone calls and had a dozen of his men meet him at the plant.

The invention prototype was in its second stage: the model had been perfected and dismantled and the second machine was in the process of being connected to the chassis. In a matter of hours the task was completed.

Pirsch, and employees Ed Wade and George Williams left in the wee hours of the morning for Chicago, enlisting the aid of a rookie Kenosha policeman to drive the vehicle.

Years later, Pirsch would swear to the story that they made the 60-mile trip in 88 minutes — with an untested chassis. A pretty quick trip for 1931 era roads and vehicles.

A police car stopped them at the Chicago city limits, but instead of offering to escort them, the officers threatened to throw them in the slammer for speeding! The officers knew nothing of the fire.

Pirsch told them to lead his party to Laflin Street and 22nd … if a legion from the Chicago Fire Department wasn’t there, they could throw him in jail.

It was sheer bedlam as the truck approached the scene at daybreak. Seven hundred fireman and thousands of people filled the streets.

More than 50 firefighters who had entered and exited the tunnel were suffering from smoke inhalation. Some bodies had been recovered. By then, the state mine superintendent from Springfield had suggested sealing up the tunnel to extinguish the fire; a move that meant certain doom for the trapped men.

Pirsch, Wade, and Williams donned gas masks to set-up the blower and the truck was backed up to the shaft where two long tubes were lowered deep into the abyss. Then the blower was revved-up and engaged.

The suction drew the smoke and gas fumes out with one tube at a rate of 20,000 cubic feet of smoke per minute, while the other carried fresh air in.

Down in the tunnel, the men in the sealed chamber had been able to get some air from a pipe that extended to the surface, but that supply wasn’t nearly enough to sustain them. One of the 17 had succumbed to the smoke, and the others knew they had to make a break for the shaft very soon or suffer the same fate.

Back on the street, Pirsch checked his watch: 23 minutes had passed. Suddenly, a patrolman let out a whoop! There in the smoke, first one form then another, until 16 men, some on their knees, all coughing and bleary-eyed, emerged from the shaft.

The crowd went wild and the families of the men who had been trapped rushed to help them.

Then it was time to bring out the dead. Seven sewer workers and four firefighters. Injured were 54 firefighters and laborers.

The Illinois Fire Service Institute reported the four men who died in the line of duty were Capt. Timothy O’Neil from Truck 14, one of the first to enter the tunnel; Firefighter Edward Bryon Pratt of Squad 8; and Firefighters William Coyne and William Karstens of Engine 23.

Pirsch and his smoke ejector made the headlines in newspapers around the world as he and his men were given credit for saving the 16 lives.

Peter Pirsch died on July 14, 1954 at the age of 88.

 

thanks Dennis

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Fire service history … Peter Pirsch & Sons (more)

This for #TBT from Mike Summa:

For TBT – Part 2, Pirsch aerials, I am sure everyone has a story about Pirsch aerials.  Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
classic Pirsch fire truck aerial literature

click to download a larger file

classic Pirsch fire truck aerial literature

click to download a larger file

classic Pirsch fire truck aerial literature

click to download a larger file

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Fire service history … Peter Pirsch & Sons

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For TBT- Pirsch fire trucks were a big part of the American fire service.  Many city and suburban fire departments utilized this type of apparatus.  Many years ago I mailed a letter to Pirsch asking for literature.  These are a sample of what was sent.
Mike Summa
classic Pirsch fire truck literature

click to download a larger file

classic Pirsch fire truck literature

click to download a larger file

classic Pirsch fire truck literature

click to download a larger file

classic Pirsch fire truck literature

click to download a larger file

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Vintage fire scene from Villa Park

This from Brian Murphy:

These photos are of a single-family house fire on the west side of Villa Park, taken during a very cold and snowy winter afternoon in the early- to mid-1990’s. At the time the pictures were taken, units from Villa Park (including call-backs), Elmhurst, Lombard, and Addison were either on-scene or en route. Unsure if it was a General Alarm or a First-Level MABAS Box.
All photos were taken using a 35mm pocket camera- no digital or smartphones back then!  Hope you enjoy the brief trip down memory lane!
I will send more as time permits!
Best Regards,
Brian Murphy
winter fire scene circa 1990

Line off of the rear of first-due engine from Villa Park Northside fire station. Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Fire venting through the roof; in foreground is Villa Park Engine 4 (reserve rig). Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Note smoke hanging low to ground- very cold day! Also note 2 1/2″ supply line from hydrant down the block at corner. Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Lots of cold smoke. Villa Park Engine 5 in background- late 60’s or early 70’s Pirsch. Brian Murphy photo

vintage custom Pirsch fire engine

Villa Park Engine 4- late 60’s or early 70’s Pirsch, similar to Engine 5. Brian Murphy photo

vintage custom Pirsch fire engine

Engine 4- officer’s side. Brian Murphy photo

Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder

Elmhurst Truck 1- 1977 Mack/Pirsch 100′ aerial ladder. Refurbished late 80’s or early 90’s by RPI . Brian Murphy photo

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Down memory lane …

This from Steve Redick:

I was doing some scanning from the “wayback” files and found a few you might like to see…

The first was a huge pile of RR ties in Bensenville that burned for hours and hours..early 80s. Got some rig shots including the old Bensenville International Squad rig..I remember at this fire the oxygen levels near it got low and one fireman started acting very erratically til they got him into better atmosphere..very strange but no one thought of using masks at an outside fire back then.

I got a lot of interest in the Elk Grove tiller shot too…..

Found a coupla shots of some Mt Prospect rigs, and the Wood Dale truck

Also a fire in a trailer in Morton Grove at the old OCC site (Oakton Community College)

All these should be from the early 80s and shot on Kodacolor negative film…

Steve

Bensenville Fire Department history

Bensenville engine. Steve Redick photo

Railroad ties on fire in the 1980s.

Railroad ties on fire in the 1980s. Steve Redick photo

Wood Dale Fire Department history

Wood Dale Pirsch ladder truck. Steve Redick photo

Railroad ties on fire in the 1980s.

Railroad ties on fire in the 1980s. Steve Redick photo

Bensenville squad. Steve Redick photo

Bensenville squad. Steve Redick photo

Elmhurst Fire Department history

Elmhurst Mack CF engine. Steve Redick photo

Elmhurst Fire Department history

Another shot of the Elmhurst engine. Steve Redick photo

Leyden Township FPD history

Leyden Township Hendrickson/FMC engine. Steve Redick photo

Elk Grove Village Fire Department history

Elk Grove Village Pirsch TDA. Steve Redick photo

Mount Prospect Fire Department history

Mount Prospect American LaFrance engine. Steve Redick photo

Mount Prospect Fire Department history

Mount Prospect American LaFrance engine. Steve Redick photo

Mount Prospect Fire Department history

Mount Prospect squad 543. Steve Redick photo

Morton Grove Fire Department history

Morton Grove engine with burned out trailer. Steve Redick photo

 

 

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CFD Apparatus History – trucks with boosters

Some additional information about the aerials purchased by the Chicago Fire Department in the late 60s and early 70s . Some have inquired about the fact that several aerials were delivered with booster reels and 300-gallon water tanks. There were several types of aerials purchased by the CFD during this time frame.

These included:

  • (3) 1968 Mack CF/Pirsch 100-foot aerials (with a red cab face) (300-gallon tanks)
  • (1) 1968 Seagrave aerial with an FWD chassis featuring rear steering for Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport
  • (8) 1970 Seagrave rear-mounts (250-gallon tanks)
  • (5) 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove units assigned to Truck 7, Truck 12, Truck 18, Truck 21, and Truck 34 (300-gallon tanks)
  • (3) 1972 Mack CF 700/Pirsch 100-foot aerials (with a silver cab face) (300-gallon tanks)

At some point in time, the shops drained the water tanks and removed the booster reels as seen in some of the photos posted HERE and below.

Future posts will show more of these aerials, but the photos here show a few examples.

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Seagrave Rear Admiral O'hare Airport

This is a 1968 Seagrave Rear Admiral 100′ aerial with a 500-gallon booster tank and twin booster reels. It features an FWD chassis with rear steering and was assigned to Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department Truck 5 1972 Mack CF Pirsch

Truck 5 was assigned one of three 1972 100-foot Pirsch rear-mount aerials mounted on a Mack CF chassis with a 500-gallon water tank and twin booster reels. Larry Shapiro photo

Previous posts in this series depicted CFD trucks with boosters from 1967 and CFD trucks with boosters from 1968.

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Lisle-Woodridge FPD history

This from Bill Friedrich:

Here is a shot that a friend sent of Lisle-Woodridge Truck 537 at it’s new home – Wellsburg VFD,WV.  Sporting a new color the tower looks pretty sharp.

Lisle Woodridge FPD historical photo Pirsch LTI tower ladder

Lisle-Woodridge FPD Truck 537, a 1979 Pirsch 1250/200 LTI 85′ tower ladder. This was the only Pirsch/LTI combination ever built. Bill Friedrich photo

Wellsburg WV VFD tower ladder

The Wellsburg VFD in West Virginia purchased the 1979 Pirsch/LTI from Lisle–Woodridge and repainted it. Bill Friedrich collection

Anyone have a shot of this working at a fire in Lisle?

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Elmhurst added to the site

The Elmhurst Fire Department in MABAS Division 12 has been added to the site. Dennis McGuire, Jr. submitted the images. Elmhurst recently underwent a color change from their long standing white over school bus yellow with green striping to a more traditional white over red. They also changed from a E-ONE to Pierce.

EMS units are staffed by contract personnel while the fire suppression units have career firefighters.

Elmhurst Fire Department Medic 1

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Elmhurst Fire Department Engine 1

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Elmhurst Fire Department Engine 3

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Elmhurst Fire Department Mobile Command and Communications Center

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

Previously, Elmhurst had American LaFrance, Pierce, Mack, and Darley engines. The former aerials were both 100′ rear mounts from Pirsch.

Elmhurst Fire Department historic fire apparatus photo

1974 Hendrickson 1871S/Pierce Suburban engine with a 1,500-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo

Elmhurst Fire Department American LaFrance 1000 Series

This 1000 Series American LaFrance engine was built in 1971 with a 1,250-GPM ump and 500 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo

Elmhurst Fire Department mack Pirsch ladder truck

Elmhurst Truck 1 was previously a 1978 Mack CF/Pirsch that was refurbished in 1992 by RPI. The 100′ rear-mount aerial had a 250-GPM PTO pump with 150 gallons of water. Larry Shapiro photo

Elmhurst Fire Department Pirsch aerial ladder

Elmhurst Truck 2 used o have this 1981 Pirsch aerial ladder that was also refurbished by RPI in 1992. Larry Shapiro photo

 

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CFD Apparatus History – trucks with boosters 1968

As a follow-up to the recent article about the 1968 Mack CF/Pirsch 100-foot aerials with booster tanks, Bill Freidrich submitted these replications of Pirsch literature featuring a Chicago unit.

Vintage brochure from Peter Pirsch & Sons Company featuring a Chicago ladder truck

Vintage brochure from Peter Pirsch & Sons Company featuring a Chicago ladder truck. Bill Friedrich collection

Vintage brochure from Peter Pirsch & Sons Company featuring a Chicago ladder truck

Another page of the brochure showing the aerial raised and the jacks deployed. Bill Friedrich collection

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CFD Apparatus History – trucks with boosters 1968

The Chicago Fire Department purchased aerial ladder trucks with booster tanks and pumps for several years. Beginning in 1966 and spanning through 1973, 31 aerials were delivered from different manufacturers with on-board water. Seven of these were mid-ship aerials and the balance were rear-mounts. Units were built by Seagrave, Pirsch, Ward LaFrance (Grove), and American LaFrance.

This is the second of several posts that will highlight the progression of these truck companies in Chicago. The numbers listed above are revisions from what was originally included in the 1st post.

IN 1968, CHICAGO RECEIVED THREE PIRSCH REAR MOUNTED AERIALS …

These trucks were built on Mack chassis with CF Series cabs. Each truck had a 100-foot rear mounted aluminum ladder, 300 gallons of water, and a 60-GPM pump.

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder

Pirsch delivery photo of a 1968 100′ rear mount on a Mack CF chassis for the Chicago Fire Department. Jack Connors collection

  • The first of these 1968 Mack/Pirsch aerials (Shop #E-170) was assigned to Truck 22. This unit was eventually reassigned to Trucks 47, 16, 35, and 34.
Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 22

Chicago Truck 22 was assigned Shop #E-170 in 1968. This was a Pirsch 100-foot rear mounted aerial on a Mack CF chassis. It carried 300 gallons of water and had a 60-GPM pump. Jack Connor photo

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 47

Shop #E-170 was assigned to Truck 47 after it had been running as Truck 22. This photo shows a canvas cover for the rear jacks instead of the metal doors that were delivered in that area.  Jack Connor photo

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 35

This image shows the rear of E-170 after it was on it’s 4th assignment now as Truck 35. The booster reel is still mounted on the unit, but it is empty. Jack Connor photo

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 16

Shop #E-170 was assigned to Truck 16 after it served truck 47. This was the second 1968 Mack/Pirsch for Truck 16. Bill Friedrich photo

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 34

After some rehab work and the removal of the booster reels, E-170 was assigned for the last time as Truck 34. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department Truck 34 1968 Mack CF Pirsch

Another image of Truck 34 on-scene this time after the booster tank and reels were removed. Steve Redick photo

  • The next (Shop #E-171) was assigned to Truck 16.
Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 16

Shop #E-171 was reassigned to Truck 16. Jack Connors photo

  • The third (Shop #E-172) went initially to Truck 15, then was reassigned to Truck 37 and then Truck 42.
Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 15

The 3rd Pirsch in 1968 went to Truck 15. The rear jacks have no cover in this photo. Jack Connors photo

Chicago Fire Department 1968 Mack CF Pirsch aerial ladder Chicago Truck 37

Shop #E-172 was reassigned to Truck 37 after seeing service as Truck 15. Jack Connor photo

 

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