HISTORIC FIRES

historic fire scene photos from many years ago

Chicago FD LODD anniversary – February 13, 1971

Posted by firescenesadmin on February 13, 2016
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , , . 2 comments

Saturday (2/13) is the 45th anniversary of the fire and explosion at 6117 N Elston Ave in Chicago which resulted in the line of duty deaths of CFD Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer.  Both men were inside of the A. A. Englehardt Heating and Appliance Dealership when an explosion sent the roof crashing down on them.  I just happened to recently acquire these color photos of the search for these men as well as the removal of FF Dyer in the final image.  The battalion chief seen looking toward the camera in the one image is Battalion 22.  Also Commissioner Quinn can be seen in the background of the one image.  The photographer was George Mars Cassidy.  Thought I would share these as I do believe they may not have been seen by the public before now.

Eric Haak

News clipping from a tragic fire and explosion at 6117 N Elston Ave on February 13, 1971

Warren Redick collection

2-13-71 fire scene in Chicago - line of duty deaths of Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer

George Mars Cassidy photo

Warren Redick collection

Warren Redick collection

2-13-71 fire scene in Chicago - line of duty deaths of Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer

George Mars Cassidy photo

2-13-71 fire scene in Chicago - line of duty deaths of Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer

George Mars Cassidy photo

2-13-71 fire scene in Chicago - line of duty deaths of Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer

George Mars Cassidy photo

2-13-71 fire scene in Chicago - line of duty deaths of Lieutenant William Quinn and Firefighter Martin Dyer

George Mars Cassidy photo

Warren Redick collection

Warren Redick collection

Warren Redick collection

Warren Redick collection

 

Historic Chicago fire scene with rescue, November 11, 1972

Posted by firescenesadmin on January 30, 2016
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Just thought I would share these rare images of Truck 60 making a rescue on November 11, 1972.  These images were taken by Sylvester Szymczak who was a professional photographer that lived in the neighborhood.  He took some very good photos of the Central Manufacturing District fire as well, probably since he lived so close.  I bought a collection of prints taken by him and recognized the buildings in this rescue as being about two blocks from my current home.  A couple years later I came across a Truck 60 log book and in it, found the entry for this fire as shown in the last image.  From what I have been able to research, the rescued victim survived.  The ambulance pictured is Ambulance 12.

Eric Haak

historic Chicago fire scene photo

Sylvester Szymczak photo

Sylvester Szymczak photo

Sylvester Szymczak photo

historic fire scene image of a victim rescue

Sylvester Szymczak photo

historic fire scene image of a victim rescue

Sylvester Szymczak photo

historic fire scene image of a victim rescue

Sylvester Szymczak photo

historic fire scene image of a victim rescue

Sylvester Szymczak photo

historic fire scene image of a victim rescue

Sylvester Szymczak photo

Vintage log book from Chicago FD Truck 60

Vintage log book from Chicago FD Truck 60

Vintage Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire scenes from 1966

Posted by firescenesadmin on December 30, 2015
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Newspaper clippings from 1966 in Chicago:

January 11, 1966 4-11 alarm at 28 E Jackson

January 10, 1966 4-11 alarm at 106th & Calumet River in a grain elevator

From the collection of Warren Redick

historic Chicago newspaper article

January 11, 1966 a 4-11 alarm fire at 28 E Jackson in Chicago. Warren Redick collection

historic Chicago newspaper article

Warren Redick collection

historic Chicago newspaper article

Warren Redick collection

historic Chicago newspaper article

January 10, 1966 a 4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago at 106th & Calumet River in a Grain Elevator. Warren Redick collection

historic Chicago newspaper article

Warren Redick collection

Historic Chicago 5-11 Alarm fire – April 15, 1989

Posted by firescenesadmin on December 5, 2015
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 comment

I starting scanning old 35mm photos of fires I have been to over the years and came across these.

This is the River North Art Gallery Fire at 361 W. Superior St. on April 15, 1989. This fire was a 5-11 and either one or two specials. I heard Aerial Tower 3 box it, grabbed my camera and headed for the fire. By the time I got downtown the fire was already a 4-11.

Jim Skrabel, Darien-Woodridge F.P.D.

massive warehouse fire in Chicago

Jim Skrabel photo

massive warehouse fire in Chicago

Jim Skrabel photo

massive warehouse fire in Chicago

Jim Skrabel photo

massive warehouse fire in Chicago

Jim Skrabel photo

massive warehouse fire in Chicago

Jim Skrabel photo

Vintage Chicago fire scenes

Posted by firescenesadmin on September 29, 2015
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

From the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown dates, locations, and photographers.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

Historic film footage of 1963 Topps Department Store fire in Highland, Indiana

Posted by firescenesadmin on August 10, 2015
Posted in: Fire Scene Video, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

While doing research on fire losses in ‘big box’ retail stores (OK, we were a bit slow on calls…), I came across, on YouTube, very old footage of a large fire in a Topps Discount Store in Highland, Indiana.  Dating back to 1963, it was shot on 8mm film and must’ve been converted to video at some point within the past 25 years.  You even get to see a nice happy family having fun before the fire footage begins.  Ah, home movies.  How many of you remember Topps (not the sports cards)?  There was one on North Avenue in Addison (near the original ‘Dog House’ that became Portilos) up until the early to mid ’70s that I can recall visting.  Anyway, this one is for everyone who grew up without cell phones.  Or DVDs.  Or video cameras.  Or push button phones.

Or, for that matter, SCBA…

Enjoy!

Brian Murphy

Historic 5-11 Alarm fire with 4 Specials at the Continental Grain Co in 1966

Posted by firescenesadmin on June 3, 2015
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

With things in Chicago being fairly slow lately, I thought I would share some images of a historical nature.  This would be one of the more memorable fires of the past 50 years.  The abandoned 9-story Continental Grain Company Elevator at 32nd Place & Benson Street stood on the east side of the South Branch of the Chicago River. Just after 7:00 pm on May 25, 1966, the structure went up in flames.  The fire was elevated to a 5-11 with 4 Specials in under 20 minutes.  People old enough to remember this need no description, but for those younger fans, the history of the department is an important thing to bring back into circulation from time to time.  The photographer is unknown and the images are part of my personal collection.

Eric Haak

Continental Grain Company Elevator fire in Chicago 5/25/66

5-11 with 4 Specials, May 25, 1966 at the Continental Grain Company Elevator at 32nd Place & Benson Street. Eric Haak collection

Continental Grain Company Elevator fire in Chicago 5/25/66

5-11 with 4 Specials, May 25, 1966 at the Continental Grain Company Elevator at 32nd Place & Benson Street. Eric Haak collection

Continental Grain Company Elevator fire in Chicago 5/25/66

5-11 with 4 Specials, May 25, 1966 at the Continental Grain Company Elevator at 32nd Place & Benson Street. Eric Haak collection