Posts Tagged vintage fire truck photos

Prospect Heights Fire District history

From Chief Drew Smith:

Here are two photos of our old tanker.

It is the second tanker owned by the PHFD. This one was a 1968 Ford/Darley with a 750-GPM two-stage pump and 1,500-gallon water tank. In 1989 we sent it to Darley to have the pump rebuilt then to Monroe Truck to have a wet side 1,500-gallon tank installed. The rest of the 1989 refurb was done in-house and included paint, striping and lettering, and the installation of cross lays and new pump panel. It served from 1986 until 1994 when the 3,000-gallon/1,250-GPM Spartan/S&S tanker was placed in service. During it’s 21 years it had the radio signatures of “#6,” 174, and Tanker 9.

#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #historicdocument; #Darley; #TBT; #WSDarleyandCompany;

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#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #FireTruck; #Darley; #TBT;

#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #FireTruck; #Darley; #TBT;

#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #historicdocument; #Darley; #TBT; #WSDarleyandCompany;

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#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #historicdocument; #Darley; #TBT; #WSDarleyandCompany;

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#chicagoareafire.com; #ProspectHeightsFPD; #history; #historicdocument; #Darley; #TBT; #WSDarleyandCompany;

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Lemont Fire Protection District history

This from Larry Shapiro for #TBT

#chicagoareafire.com; #larryshapiro; #shapirophotography.net; #larryshapiro.tumblr.com; #TBT; #LemontFPD; #FireTruck; #AmericanLaFrance; #CenturySeries; #vintage;;

1982 American LaFrance Century Series engine with 500 gallons of water and a 1,500-GPM pump. Larry Shapiro photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #larryshapiro; #shapirophotography.net; #larryshapiro.tumblr.com; #TBT; #LemontFPD; #FireTruck; #AmericanLaFrance; #CenturySeries; #vintage; #WaterChief; #quint;;

1983 American LaFrance Century Series 75? Water Chief Quint (1500/500). Larry Shapiro photo

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Summit Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

This is the Summit Fire Dept.’s Engine 951, 1960/70’s Mack CF.  Please fill in the blanks if you know more.  Thanks.  The first picture is mine, the second, a group shot is from the Summit FD Facebook page.  Enjoy and comment.
Mike Summa
#chicagoareafire.com; #TBT; #FireTruck; #Mack; #MackCF; #MikeSumma; #SummitFD;

Mike Summa photo

#chicagoareafire.com; #SummitFD; #TBT; #FireTruck; #Mack;

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Naval Air Station Glenview Fire Department history

This from Asher Heimermann:

Naval Air Station Glenview was an operational U.S. Naval Air Station from 1923 to 1995.

historic fire truck from the former Glenview Naval Air Station

Asher Heimermann photo

historic fire truck from the former Glenview Naval Air Station

Asher Heimermann photo

historic fire truck from the former Glenview Naval Air Station

Asher Heimermann photo

historic fire truck from the former Glenview Naval Air Station

Asher Heimermann photo

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Rosemont Fire Department / Public Safety Department history

This from Larry Shapiro fort #TBT:

Since the site has been highlighting Rosemont apparatus being sold and replaced, here’s a bit of Rosemont FWD history for #TBT

vintage FWD fire engine in Rosemont IL

Larry Shapiro photo

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Evanston Fire Department history

From Phil Stenholm:

HISTORY OF EVANSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT SQUAD 21

Prior to 1952, the Evanston Fire Department had no squad. EFD Chief Albert Hofstetter wanted to place a squad into service back in the 1930’s, but budget cuts stemming from the Great Depression put that on hold. And so the EFD’s specialized fire-ground support and rescue equipment (including inhalator since 1913) were stored at Fire Station #1 and would be loaded onto an engine and transported to the scene of an incident only when needed.   

1. The First Squad was a 1952 Pirsch 1000-GPM / 100-gallon pumper-squad. One of five rigs purchased by Evanston from Pirsch 1951-52, this was the original Squad 21 from 1952-65, and while it had a 1000-GPM pump, it had no hose bed but there was a “red-line” booster hose reel and 100 gallons of water on board that could be used to extinguish a minor fire. This rig was initially staffed by two firefighters and responded to about 100 inhalator calls city-wide per year from 1952-1959 and to working fires and specialized rescue calls when requested. Inhalators were placed into service with all five engine companies in 1959, so Squad 21 was staffed by just one firefighter (usually the shift mechanic) and responded only to working structure fires and specialized rescue calls when requested 1959-62. It was placed back into front-line service in January 1963 as a four-man company when Truck Co. 23 was taken out of service. It ran as a manpower & rescue company from that point onward, responding to all fire calls (not just working fires) and specialized rescue calls city-wide. It was also the primary inhalator company for Station #1 (keeping Engine 21 available for alarms in the downtown high-value district). Without a hose bed, the 1000-GPM pump was essentially wasted. The original squad body was removed and replaced with a new pumper body in 1966, after-which it ran as Engine 22 from 1966-70 and then as Engine 25 from 1970-76. It was retired and gutted for spare parts in 1980 (there were two other 1952 Pirsch pumpers still in reserve through 1983) and then it became playground equipment at Kamen Park at Asbury & South Blvd. 

Evanston Fire Department history

Bill Friedrich photo

2. The SS-1 of the Evanston Fire Department was a 1965 International / General Body pumper-squad. This rig replaced the 1952 Pirsch pumper-squad so that the Pirsch could be converted into a triple-combination pumper (see above). The work-horse of the Evanston Fire Department between 1966-76, this “Frankenstein” rig was constructed by General Body Co. at their Chicago factory using an International cab & chassis like the ones used by City of Evanston garbage trucks back at that time. General Body (makers of the legendary CFD Autocar squads, the Oscar Mayer “Wienermobile,” bookmobiles, and other specialty vehicles) fabricated the body and put it all together. Included on this rig was a split hose-bed with two leads of pre-connected 1-1/2 hose-lines designed for rapid fire-attack, a heavy-duty front bumper-mounted winch (used mainly to haul vehicles out of Lake Michigan and fire trucks out of snow drifts), extendable quartz lights, and a high-pressure deck gun master-stream nozzle. This version of Squad 21 was staffed by four firefighters and responded to all fire calls (not just working fires) and specialized rescue calls city-wide, as well as to inhalator calls and minor fires (vehicle, trash, prairie, etc) in Station #1’s district.  It was, by far, the busiest company in the EFD the years it was in service, and so new firefighters were often assigned to Squad 21 so they could gain a lot of experience as quickly as possible.    

Evanston Fire Department history

Bill Friedrich photo

3. The Pie Truck – a 1977 Chevrolet / Penn Versatile Van. Known by Evanston firefighters as the “pie truck,” this third version of Squad 21 replaced the 1965 International / General Body squad, mainly because the amount of specialized HazMat, rescue equipment, and dive-team gear added by the EFD in the 1970s exceeded what could be carried on a pumper-squad. Also, Squad 21’s manpower was reassigned to the two MICU ambulances that were placed into service 1976-77, so Squad 21 became an unmanned “jump rig” that was staffed by manpower from Station #1 only when needed  at a working fire, HazMat incident, specialized rescue, dive team call, etc. Thus Squad 21 was no longer the SS-1 of the EFD. It was later reassigned as the Dive Team support truck.  

Evanston Fire Department history

Larry Shapiro photo

4. The Gladiator : A 2006 Spartan Gladiator / Marion “walk-in” heavy-rescue squad. Like the Chevrolet / Penn van that came before it, this newer version of Squad 21 is a “jump rig” at Station #1 and is staffed only when needed, but the 2006 version of Squad 21 can carry  much more equipment than could the Chevy. Besides an air cascade, heavy-duty winch, portable power & lights, and lots of room for specialized equipment and gear, the 2006 Squad 21 also features rehab facilities for extended incidents.   

Evanston Fire Department history

Larry Shapiro photo

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Markham Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For T BT-The Markham Fire Dept.’s E53, a 1964 IHC/? 750/800.  It was replaced in 1984 with a Ford C/E-One 750/500 as E1531.
Mike Summa
vintage fire engine from Markham FD IL

Mike Summa photo

Vintage 1984 Ford C/E-One fire engine from Markham, IL

Mike Summa photo

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MABAS Division 27 Snorkel history

This from Wayne Stuart for #TBT:

Mabas Division 27 departments operated a few Snorkels over the years. The South Chicago Heights rig is the X- Louisville Kentucky Truck Co.2.

wayne stuart 

classic Chicago Heights FD 85' Snorkel

Wayne Stuart photo

75' Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart photo

Ward LaFrance H-Ranger Snorkel

Wayne Stuart photo

vintage 85' Snorkel from Matteson IL

Wayne Stuart photo

classic FWD 55' Snorkel from the Steger FD

Wayne Stuart photo

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Oak Forest and Midlothian Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For TBT- Two fire departments side by side who have/had the same type of equipment.  Oak Forest Engine 94, a 1971 FWD/Pierce 1250/500 w/54′ Squrt.  Midlothian Engine 2, a 1973 Seagrave 1250/300 w/ 54′ Squrt.  The Oak Forest engine is gone, but Midlothian had Pierce rehab their unit in 1994 with a Pierce Arrow cab and upgrade its engine into 1500/500.  Are there any more Squrts out there?
Mike Summa
vintage Seagrave 54' Squrt

Mike Summa photo

Seagrave 54' Squrt

Mike Summa photo

Pierce Arrow  54' Squrt

Mike Summa photo

54' Squrt flowing water

Mike Summa photo

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Mabas Division 24 Snorkel history

This from Wayne Stuart for #TBT:

Mabas Division 24 at one time or another over the years had the following Snorkels in service, the only one I do not have a photo of is Tinley Park. If anyone has a shot of it feel free to add it in. The Gary rig is the X-South Holland.

wayne stuart collection and photos

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

historic Snorkel fire truck

Wayne Stuart collection

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