HISTORIC FIRES

historic fire scene photos from many years ago

Chicago SS1 history

Posted by firescenesadmin on June 27, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago Fire Department history, Chicago Morita ladder, Chicago SS1, Fred McCahey, historic Chicago fire scene. Leave a Comment

I dug out a few pics that I thought you might want to see. Still have more to find but this is a start.

Shooting back then with a Canon TL (still have it) film camera AND working/schooling on firefighting was a bit of a trick.

Circa 1977-78 ….

undated images from a fire in a shoe store on State street … with SS1, Engine 42, and Truck 1, the 135′ Morita ladder

Fred McCahey

This was the first time I ever was pulled into a fire by Lt R Sutherland, “to learn something” as he put it. The pictures were taken after working and coughing my lungs out.

Fred McCahey photo

SSI, Engine 42, and Truck 1. Fred McCahey photo

Image of Chicago FD units on State Street in the 1970s. Fred McCahey photo

Fred McCahey photo

Chicago fire images from 1980

Posted by firescenesadmin on June 14, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago firemen working in 1978, firemen with rubber turnout coats, Larry Shapiro, old Chicago fire scene photos, Snorkel at Chicago fire scene. 2 comments

During one of my early experiences riding with Snorkel Squad 1 (SS1) in Chicago, we took in a 2-11 3-11 Alarm fire on the north side at night. That’s about all the detail that I remember. I don’t have a date or address, and by the time we got on the scene most of the fire was out.

**okay – it turns out that I have notes that the 3-11 was at 5730-36 N. Western Avenue on July 18, 1980.

Larry Shapiro photo

We took in another fire that night in a small restaurant. Here are a few of the images that were scanned from Extachrome slides.

Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire – September, 1989

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 24, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago Fire Department, Chicago firefighters battle fire in a two-flat, Chicago Still & Box Alarm, firemen ventilate roof and windows at house fire, flames through the roof of a house, Larry Shapiro. 1 comment

Images from a Still & Box Alarm fire in Chicago’s 7th Battalion during September of 1989. As I arrived, I was afraid that I’d missed everything as the fire appeared to be out on the first floor. I was in the right place though when they vented the roof and void spaces that were charged.

firemen battle a house fire with smoke and flames

Chicago firefighters on the roof of a house in the 7th Battalion in September of 1989. Larry Shapiro photo

The 7th Battalion directs a firefighter as heavy smoke escapes the second floor. Larry Shapiro photo

Smoke pushes into the gangway between the houses as a firefighter vents the roof. Larry Shapiro photo

Fire vents through the roof. Larry Shapiro photo

A fireman pulls the soffit as two others prepare to hit the fire from a ladder. Larry Shapiro photo

Firemen direct a stream into the second floor window. Larry Shapiro photo

A handline goes to work from the front yard. Larry Shapiro photo

After the heavy fire was knocked down, there was still fire in the void space behind the roofing material. Larry Shapiro photo

Historic 8-Alarm fire in Brooklyn, NY – June 30, 1952

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 23, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: FDNY 8-Alarm fire, Historic New York fire scene, new York City 8-Alarm fire in 1952. 1 comment

This image comes from an unknown photographer of an 8-Alarm fire in Brooklyn at Manhattan Avenue and Clay Street on June 30, 1952.

Massive 8-Alarm fire in Brooklyn, NY June 30, 1952. photographer unknown

Classic Chicago fire scene image from 1959

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 22, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Atlantic Paper Company fire in Chicago 2-20-59, Chicago FD history, Chicago Fire Department history, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire scene photos, the original Snorkel working at a massive fire in Chicago. Leave a Comment

The original Snorkel, known then as a Giraffe, is shown here working this 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago. The unit was built in 1958 and delivered to the city for use as a tree trimmer. Note the tree guard above the cab. This image was taken before the boom was piped with steel, as the 3″ hoe line is lashed along the boom sections.

the original Snorkel fire truck working at a fire

5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago on February 20, 1959 at the Atlantic Paper Company at 2931 S. LaSalle Street. photographer unknown

Historic 5-11 alarm fire in Chicago – February 9, 1965

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 21, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago FD history, Chicago FD Snorkel Squad 1, Gotham Industries warehouse fire in Chicago February of 1965, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire scene photos, historic massive fire in Chicago 2-9-65. Leave a Comment

Images from a 5-11 Alarm fire with 1 Special at 540 N. Orleans Street, February 9, 1965. The photographer is unknown

5-11 Alarm Fire with 1 Special Alarm at 540 N. Orleans Street in Chicago on February 9, 1965. Photographer unknown

Elevated train car fire in Chicago – October 18, 1962

Posted by firescenesadmin on May 20, 2014

Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: Chicago FD history, Chicago Fire Department history, Elevated train car fire in Chicago at 35th Street on October 18 1962, historic Chicago fire scene, historic fire scene photos. 1 comment

More historic photos from Chicago – the photographers are unknown

Elevated train car fire in Chicago at 35th Street on October 18, 1962. Photographer unknown

FireScenes.Net

Fire scene photography from across the country

HISTORIC FIRES

historic fire scene photos from many years ago

Chicago SS1 history

I dug out a few pics that I thought you might want to see. Still have more to find but this is a start.

Shooting back then with a Canon TL (still have it) film camera AND working/schooling on firefighting was a bit of a trick.

Circa 1977-78 ….

undated images from a fire in a shoe store on State street … with SS1, Engine 42, and Truck 1, the 135′ Morita ladder

Fred McCahey

This was the first time I ever was pulled into a fire by Lt R Sutherland, “to learn something” as he put it. The pictures were taken after working and coughing my lungs out.

Chicago fire images from 1980

During one of my early experiences riding with Snorkel Squad 1 (SS1) in Chicago, we took in a 2-11 3-11 Alarm fire on the north side at night. That’s about all the detail that I remember. I don’t have a date or address, and by the time we got on the scene most of the fire was out.

**okay – it turns out that I have notes that the 3-11 was at 5730-36 N. Western Avenue on July 18, 1980.

We took in another fire that night in a small restaurant. Here are a few of the images that were scanned from Extachrome slides.

Chicago Still & Box Alarm fire – September, 1989

Images from a Still & Box Alarm fire in Chicago’s 7th Battalion during September of 1989. As I arrived, I was afraid that I’d missed everything as the fire appeared to be out on the first floor. I was in the right place though when they vented the roof and void spaces that were charged.

Historic 8-Alarm fire in Brooklyn, NY – June 30, 1952

Classic Chicago fire scene image from 1959

Historic 5-11 alarm fire in Chicago – February 9, 1965

Elevated train car fire in Chicago – October 18, 1962

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I dug out a few pics that I thought you might want to see. Still have more to find but this is a start.

Shooting back then with a Canon TL (still have it) film camera AND working/schooling on firefighting was a bit of a trick.

Circa 1977-78 ….

undated images from a fire in a shoe store on State street … with SS1, Engine 42, and Truck 1, the 135′ Morita ladder

Fred McCahey

This was the first time I ever was pulled into a fire by Lt R Sutherland, “to learn something” as he put it. The pictures were taken after working and coughing my lungs out.

During one of my early experiences riding with Snorkel Squad 1 (SS1) in Chicago, we took in a 2-11 3-11 Alarm fire on the north side at night. That’s about all the detail that I remember. I don’t have a date or address, and by the time we got on the scene most of the fire was out.

**okay – it turns out that I have notes that the 3-11 was at 5730-36 N. Western Avenue on July 18, 1980.

We took in another fire that night in a small restaurant. Here are a few of the images that were scanned from Extachrome slides.

Images from a Still & Box Alarm fire in Chicago’s 7th Battalion during September of 1989. As I arrived, I was afraid that I’d missed everything as the fire appeared to be out on the first floor. I was in the right place though when they vented the roof and void spaces that were charged.

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