Eric Haak

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January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison in Chicago @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. The first image is looking North towards the old Crane Junior College (high school still there but the building you see in the image is gone). You can also see the old Chicago Stadium off in the far distance. Second image looking across Western to the Southeast. Final image showing Snorkels working in the alley or what today would be called the “C” side. The truck company parked on Western looks to be 19 and I am only going off of what the number looks like on the door. Our staff historians will correct me if I’m wrong. If you look closely in the background, you can see the huge Phillips 66 neon sign that used to sit over the Eisenhower and the old Harris Bank Christmas billboard on top of one of the exposure buildings. Hope you enjoy this for #throwbackthursday. Eric Haak

vintage 4-11 alarm fir in Chicago 1962

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

vintage 4-11 alarm fir in Chicago 1962

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

vintage 4-11 alarm fire in Chicago 1962

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

Just a few images from a working fire on Sunday morning (7/9). When I was a block away, there was still some fairly heavy smoke coming up from the home and I was coming from about 4 miles away. Needless to say, companies made quick work of this attic fire. Eric Haak

Chicago FD Engine 54

Eric Haak photo

firefighters raising a ground ladder at a fire

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firefighters overhaul after fire

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firefighters on aerial ladder

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Chicago FD chief with firefighters

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Chicago FD Engine 129

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Images are from a still & box on the 5600 block of South LaSalle this morning. Engine 84 landed around 5:20 with rear porches and asked for the box. Eric Haak

Firefighters at fire scene

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Firefighters at fire scene

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Chicago FD Squad 5A

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Chicago FD Squad 5A

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Chicago FD Engine 84

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Firefighters at fire scene

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Chicago FD Tower Ladder 37

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Chicago FD Engine 84

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Chicago FD Tower Ladder 37

Eric Haak photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 37

Eric Haak photo

Chicago FD Tower Ladder 37

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Chicago FD Engine 47

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fire trucks at fire scene

Eric Haak photo

On Sunday morning, April 9th, I had the great opportunity to shoot the Detroit Fire Department at work. I was driving down I94 at Van Dyke when a Box Alarm came in on Van Dyke just northwest of Mack. I arrived and got into position just before the first companies landed. The primary fire building was going throughout with the D side exposure heavily involved and the B side occupied going. The DFD did an incredible job of saving the occupied home under these intense conditions.

Engine 1 dumped their monitor to knock down the fire on the roof of the occupied while Engine 9 connected to a hydrant. Engine 1 then moved out of the way and tagged a hydrant down the block. Companies immediately made entry to the occupied exposure and stretched a line to that building’s attic. Hand lines were dropped to protect the occupied exposure and the first arriving truck directed an elevated stream on the same. When the primary fire building collapsed, the exterior wall fell outward onto the exterior of the occupied exposure. Even with this added obstacle, the exposure was still saved. It was good to witness the DFD do what they do best. Hope you enjoy the images.

Eric Haak

Detroit firefighters battle a house fire with a deck gun

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Detroit firefighter deploys deck gun at house fire

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Detroit firefighter deploys deck gun at house fire

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Detroit firefighters battle a house fire

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Detroit firefighters battle a house fire

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Detroit firefighters battle a house fire

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Detroit firefighters battle a house fire

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Detroit firefighters battle massive inferno

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silhouette of firefighters with massive inferno

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3-alarm fire about mid-morning on April 10th, Grosse Pointe, Michigan had a structure fire in a large, single-family dwelling. The first arriving company reported heavy smoke and fire and requested a 3rd Alarm on arrival. Responding from a distance, I thought for sure this was going to be one heck of a job. When I arrived on the scene I was suprised to see just three pieces of equipment and the fire mostly out with the exception of some residual smoke. Turned out that this was a Public Safety Department with Grosse Pointe sending a mini-pumper, Grosse Pointe Farms sending an engine and Grosse Pointe Park sending a tower ladder on a third alarm. There was heavy fire blowing out the kitchen window which was handled with the companies shown in the images. Nothing dramatic but an interesting response which I thought I would share here. Eric Haak

Grosse Pointe Park fire truck

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Gross Point fire engine

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scene of a 2-alarm house fire in Grosse Pointe MI

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firefighters at fire scene

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firefighter in full PPE

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firefighters swap SCBA bottle

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Grosse Pointe Farms fire engine

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Here are some images taken at Chicago’s 2-11 alarm at 9650 S. Ewing Ave. 4/15/17.  Apparently was a gas explosion. There were two transports and one was reported in very grave condition. Lighting was not optimal for taking pictures of the new snorkel but the pictures still give you a good idea of what the scene was like. Most of the fire load was in the rear and the snorkel was backed down the alley and placed in a vacant lot on the C/D corner. Eventually they relocated the snorkel to the front of the building and burned the roof off. There is also a short video of them setting up Squad 5A. Eric Haak

flames through windows of building on fire

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flames through windows of building on fire

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Chicago FD Squad 5A Rosenbauer Commaner

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Chicago FD Squad 5A Rosenbauer Commaner

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Chicago FD Squad 5A Rosenbauer Commaner

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Chicago FD Squad 5A Rosenbauer Commaner

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Chicago FD Engine 46

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Engine 46

Tim Olk photo

heavy smoke from building roof at fire scene

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Squad 5A at work

Tim Olk photo

more photos at chicagoareafire.com

Here are some pictures from a Still & Box Alarm in Chicago on Saturday morning (2/11). The 15th Battalion was first on scene and reported light smoke showing from a 600 x 200, 4-story, fire-resistive warehouse. Seven minutes later, the 15th reported they had heavy smoke in the interior and asked for the box. It turned out to be an auto. The MVU was brought in to clear the smoke. Eric Haak

heavy smoke from warehouse building

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Chicago FD Engine 39

Eric Haak photo

heavy smoke from warehouse building

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD Engine 39

Steve Redick photo

Chicago Firefighter with PPE & tools

Tim Olk photo

heavy smoke from warehouse building

Tim Olk photo

heavy smoke from warehouse building

Steve Redick photo

heavy smoke from warehouse building

Tim Olk photo

Chicago FD MVU 923

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Chicago FD MVU 923

Tim Olk photo

Chicago Firefighter with PPE & tools

Eric Haak photo

Chicago Firefighter with PPE & tools

Tim Olk photo