HISTORIC FIRES

historic fire scene photos from many years ago

Going into the way-back machine for this fire on the northwest corner of Belmont and Pulaski.  This building still stands today and is still a corner tavern.  Kind of a neat series of images as the unknown photographer catches companies pulling up with smoke pushing out the side door.  As the fire is brought under control, you can see a dog mounted on top of Engine 91’s Ahrens-Fox.  The final image is kind of funny as a car goes driving down Belmont with a couch tied to the roof.  I could not find any markings to identify either of the trucks, and in the final image there is what I believe is a squad on Pulaski to the far right.

Eric Haak

 

historic Chicago fire scene

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

historic Chicago fire scene

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

historic Chicago fire scene

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

historic Chicago fire scene

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

Here are some great old color images from a 3-11 alarm in Chicago on July 24, 1966.  The fire was at 2348 S. Federal and from other images I have of this fire, it appeared to be long, wooden store houses that were filled with used tires.  The engine you see is Engine 104 and the other rig is lettered and numbered Squad 8.

 Eric Haak

old Chicago fire scene photo

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

old Chicago fire scene photo with Hi-Ranger Snorkel

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

old Chicago fire scene photo with Mack L Series engine

Classic 3-11 Alarm fire in Chicago July 24, 1966 at 2348 S. Federal . photographer unknown

old Chicago fire scene photo with Autocar squad

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

old Chicago fire scene photo with Hi-Ranger Snorkel

Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown

I thought I would share some old school photos.  These were scanned and I don’t have the photographer’s name to credit as they are just part of my collection.  Possibly someone who was living on the block.

Just sharing some shots of Engine 15 and 64 working a house fire some time in the late 80’s or early 90’s.

Eric Haak

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene from the 1980s. photographer unknown

photographer unknown

This day started with the primary (Hendrickson) rig going into “the shops”. RS-1 was driven … then it broke down. Someone in the shops had a sense of humor because the final pictures show the replacement was a really old rig that had to follow SS-1A … the engine had no working siren!  When SS-1 was called, 1A, the old engine, and the 625 responded. Then the engine quit working!

(Lt Sutherland’s shift)

Fred McCahey

Chicago FD SS1 Lt Sutherland

Lt Sutherland with SS1. Fred McCahey photo

vintage Chicago FD Mack pumper

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago FD SS1 Lt Sutherland

Lt Sutherland and friends. Fred McCahey photo

SS1 – the quarters

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

What a smell in the basement!

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

The firefighter wearing the English style derby hat was wearing a Driver sign on it … it was a joke and he wore it all day while driving the Hendrickson rig.

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1 in quarters

Fred McCahey photo 

These are pictures of pictures that hung in SS-1 Orleans Street quarters…upstairs next to the kitchen

Chicago SS1 in quarters

photographer unknown

Chicago SS1 in quarters

photographer unknown

Chicago SS1 in quarters

photographer unknown

Fred McCahey

Circa 1977-78

This was either on Scott St or W Goethe St. The call came in as a rescue but it turned out to be a recovery. Evidently the young man was retrieving a ball hit up on the “L” tracks and tripped over the third rail. It was very quiet in the firehouse for a few hours after this run.

 Fred McCahey

Chicago SS1

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago Snorkel Squad 1 history

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago Snorkel Squad 1 history

Fred McCahey photo

Images from an abandoned warehouse fire circa 1977. SS-1A’s winch was used to tear out the garage door

Fred McCahey

Chicago SS1

SS1 at an abandoned warehouse circa 1977. Fred McCahey photo

vintage Chicago FD photo

A classic FWD tractor-drawn aerial is visible in the background. Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago SS1

Fred McCahey photo

CFD SS1 Lt Bob Sutherland

CFD SS1 Lt Bob Sutherland at an abandoned warehouse circa 1977. Fred McCahey photo

old Chicago FD photo with SS1

Fred McCahey photo

old Chicago FD photo

Fred McCahey photo

old Chicago FD photo with SS1

Fred McCahey photo

old Chicago FD photo

Fred McCahey photo