vintage fire scene photos

All posts tagged vintage fire scene photos

4-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, IL – January 2, 1962

Posted by firescenesadmin on August 3, 2017
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

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

Vintage Chicago 2-11 Alarm fire – December 1989

Posted by firescenesadmin on April 1, 2016
Posted in: FIre Scene photos, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

This was an interesting fire. December 1989, a 2-11 at 1705 N Talman. I happened on this in the early stages. Occupants still in the exposure building were just exiting out the back under heavy fire conditions. They lost water for some reason and the back end of the two  dwellings really took off. I helped the engineer of 35 make another hydrant down the block after things went sour. After all was said and done I smelled something burning and discovered my knit hat was burning as was my hair from a flying ember!

Steve Redick

heavy flames at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

heavy flames at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

heavy flames at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

fireman on ladder at house fire

Steve Redick photo

heavy flames at night fire scene

Steve Redick photo

heavy flames at night fire scene

Steve Redick photow56

Vintage photos from a working fire in Villa Park, IL

Posted by firescenesadmin on August 23, 2014
Posted in: Fire Scene Video, HISTORIC FIRES. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 comment

These photos are of a single-family house fire on the west side of Villa Park, taken during a very cold and snowy winter afternoon in the early- to mid-1990′s. At the time the pictures were taken, units from Villa Park (including call-backs), Elmhurst, Lombard, and Addison were either on-scene or en route. Unsure if it was a General Alarm or a First-Level MABAS Box.

All photos were taken using a 35mm pocket camera- no digital or smartphones back then!  Hope you enjoy the brief trip down memory lane!

Best Regards,

Brian Murphy

winter fire scene circa 1990

Line off of the rear of first-due engine from Villa Park Northside fire station. Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Fire venting through the roof; in foreground is Villa Park Engine 4 (reserve rig). Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Note smoke hanging low to ground- very cold day! Also note 2 1/2″ supply line from hydrant down the block at corner. Brian Murphy photo

winter fire scene circa 1990

Lots of cold smoke. Villa Park Engine 5 in background- late 60’s or early 70’s Pirsch. Brian Murphy photo

classic custom Pirsch fire engine

Villa Park Engine 4- late 60’s or early 70’s Pirsch, similar to Engine 5. Brian Murphy photo

classic custom Pirsch fire engine

Engine 4- officer’s side. Brian Murphy photo

Mack CF Pirsch rear mounted aerial ladder fro Elmhurst IL

Elmhurst Truck 1- 1977 Mack/Pirsch 100′ aerial ladder. Refurbished late 80’s or early 90’s by RPI . Brian Murphy photo