HISTORIC FIRES

historic fire scene photos from many years ago

Chicago 5-11 Alarm at 1520 S Indiana – March 17, 1974

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 6, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: 5-11 Alarm fire at 1520 S Indiana in Chicago in 1974, Chicago FD history, Eric Haak, historic Chicago fire scene, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department. 4 comments

Images and a map depicting a 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago at a cold storage warehouse that occurred 3/17/74.

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

Provided by Chuck Bleck

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic fire scene in Chicago

Eric Haak collection

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

map by Chuck Bleck

Vintage Chicago fire scene

Posted by firescenesadmin on April 23, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago Fire Department, historic fire in Chicago, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, vintage Chicago fire scene photos, vintage fire scene photos, Wayne Stuart. 1 comment

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

Vintage CFD fire scene, photographer unknown

Vintage CFD fire scene, photographer unknown. Wayne Stuart collection

Vintage Chicago fire scene

Posted by firescenesadmin on April 22, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: classic Chicago fire scene photos, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire in Chicago, vintage Chicago fire scene photos, Warren Redick. Leave a Comment

I just returned from Arkansas. I brought back the rest of my dad’s fire collection and was surprised to find this. 5-11 and 4 Specials at 32nd Place & Bensen in Chicago. I remember dad took this in while I was at school, and I hadn’t seen this photo for many years. I believe the Snorkel setting up may have been SS-1. Most of the shots of this fire I have seen are black & white.

Steve Redick

massive historic fire in Chicago

5-11 and 4 Specials at 32nd and Bensen in Chicago. Warren Redick photo

Historic Chicago fire photos

Posted by firescenesadmin on April 8, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: 5-11 Alarm fire at 908 W North Avenue in Chicago 1953, Chicago FD history, historic fire in Chicago, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Steve Redick. Leave a Comment

From the collection of Steve Redick:

April 12, 1953, 5-11 with many dead, Haber Corporation 908 W North Ave

historic deadly fire in Chicago

April 12, 1953 5-11 with many dead Haber Corporation 908 W North Ave . Steve Redick collection

March 13, 1965, 2-11 at Fulton & Damen in Chicago

classic 1965 Chicago fire scene

March 13, 1965, 2-11 at Fulton & Damen in Chicago. Steve Redick collection

Vintage Chicago fire scene from the 1950s

Posted by firescenesadmin on March 20, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago FD water tower at fire scene, classis Chicago fire scene photos, Eric Haak, historic fire scene photos, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, photos by Augustyn, Rainbo Bowling Alley fire in Chicago, vintage Chicago fire scene photos. Leave a Comment

These images were taken around 1950 by an aspiring photographer whose last name was Augustyn but I do not have a first name.

The fire was on the Northeast corner of Diversey and Pulaski on the same lot as the Walgreens that is next to Engine 91’s house. The fire was in the Rainbo Lanes Bowling Alley. The truck closest to the building is Truck 35 and the one with its aerial up looks like Truck 13 although it is hard to read. The Water Tower is #2. Hope you enjoy them.

Eric Haak

classic photo of Chicago firemen working circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

classic photo of large fire in Chicago circa 1950

Rainbo Bowling Alley fire in Chicago circa 1959. photo by Augustyn

classic photo of Chicago firemen working circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

antique fire truck in Chicago circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

Chicago FD classic water tower at fire scene

photo by Augustyn

classic photo of large fire in Chicago circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

classic photo of Chicago firemen working circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

classic photo of Chicago firemen working circa 1950

photo by Augustyn

Chicago 5-11 Alarm at 1520 S Indiana in 1974

Posted by firescenesadmin on January 30, 2015

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: 5-11 Alarm fire at 1520 S Indiana in Chicago in 1974, American LaFrance fire engines in Chicago, Big John turret working at Chicago fire scene, Chicago FD history, historic Chicago fire scene, historical photos of Chicago Fire Department, Seagrave fire engines in Chicago, Steve Redick, Ward LaFrance P80 engines in Chicago, Warren Redick. 1 comment

I returned from Arkansas with a lot of my dad’s collection. One of the things he had displayed on his wall was a series of 3 x 5 color prints from a 5-11 he and I were at in 1974. This was a cold storage warehouse and I recall it burned for days. I also remember at some point the building collapsed onto an adjacent structure causing the transmission of another extra alarm. We took it in well after the initial alarm and toured the fireground getting these shots of some classic rigs in action. The image with Big John in the background is probably one of the few images you will see with both guns working. Most times they couldn’t muster up the water supply to use both. Also note the 2000-GPM LaFrances often used both ports on the hydrant. They had an order that no other pumper was to share a hydrant with a 2,000-gallon rig, thus giving them the ability to use both steamer ports.

These photos were in horrendous condition … colors way off and faded. I was surprised at how much of the damaged images I was able to restore. They are far from perfect but at least they are now useable. I bet if I made them B&W they would be near perfect. Enjoy the history.

Steve Redick

Big John turret wagon working at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Seagrave fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

American LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Ward LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Seagrave fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Mack Pirsch fire truck at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

American LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Ward LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Ward LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

American LaFrance fire engine at Chicago fire scene

Warren Redick photo

Historic Chicago fire scene

Posted by firescenesadmin on December 18, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Fred Fredericks, historic Chicago fire scene, Paul Fredericks, winter fire scene photo. 1 comment

Hello-

My father, Fred Fredericks, was a Chicago firefighter from the late 1950s until his retirement in 1986. He was stationed at 10 W. Hubbard, 81st and Ashland, and Midway Airport. He passed away this fall, and my siblings and I found the attached picture while going through his belongings.

This picture shows my father putting water on a fire, in the winter of a year in the late 50s or early 60s, we believe.

We thought that visitors to your blog might find it interesting, and might possibly remember some specifics about this fire.

Thank you for your interest.

-Paul Fredericks, Plainfield, IL

vintage winter fire scene with Chicago firefighter

Chicago firefighter Fred Fredericks at a winter fire scene circa 1955. From the collection of his family.