Fire Engines Photos

Readers will be relieved to learn that CFD limit this awful yellow paint job to their units at the airports. The majority of the fleet are still the traditional black over red - except for the ambulance fleet, which are solid white.

Added by Rob Johnson on 15 May 2018.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Andy:

As a Cook County property tax payer, I guess CFD could be forgiven for painting everything yellow!

But I do much prefer the red and black...

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 May 2018.

These invariably each respond along with a matching 55 foot snorkel as depicted in picture 40923. The "box" is staffed by four rescue specialists, with another two in the snorkel. For many years, the CFD has found it advantageous to distribute rescue equipment and crew members across two smaller, more maneuverable trucks rather than one giant tandem axle rig like those in New York and many other cities. As a rescue squad responds to all working fires, as well as to rescue situations, the addition of a relatively compact snorkel can sometimes come in useful for water tower operations too... This approach seems to work well for CFD, but is unique to Chicago.

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 January 2022.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

With Chicago's numerous harbors, the ship canal, several city lakes and both branches of the Chicago river - in addition to twenty two miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan - CFD has these rescue boats on all of its rescue squads, as well as a dedicated rescue dive team at Station 13 near the mouth of the river, all backed up by an additional dive team water rescue helicopter and two fireboats. In addition to water rescue, all of these specialist teams are equipped for ice rescue. Very necessary on days like today, when it is -12C outdoors right now!

Added by Rob Johnson on 06 January 2022.

In addition, CPD operate seven patrol boats, two rescue helicopters and an additional land based dive rescue truck.

Both agencies respond to water and ice rescue situations, and co-operate very closely once on scene.

Added by Rob Johnson on 06 January 2022.

One of the previous series of three CFD Squad units (with the snorkel) is pictured in this site in ppictures 34659, 34660 and 36612.

Added by Rob Johnson on 08 January 2022.

Can anyone explain the projecting front bumper - work platform? Boat locker? Counterweight (LOL)?

Added by Tony G on 15 January 2022.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Without knowing exactly, it would be normal for this to be used either to accommodate a winch, or just as likely either hydraulic hoses for extrication equipment and/or cable reels for electrical supply for power tools. Here in the US, each fire department equips and designs its rescue squad truck(s) to meet its own local needs, so - although front bumper mounted equipment is commonplace - different fire departments have their own preferences as to how to use them. CFD engines all have five inch (125mm) hoses mounted in the bumper for quick access to hydrants, while some other departments use the bumper for a pre-connected "trash line" with one or one and a half inch hose for car fires, grass fires and the like instead.

The bumper mounted five inch hose is also featured on CFD aerials, even though they have no pump, so that the pre-plumbed ladder line can be quickly attached to an engine if the ladder is to function as a water tower.

Added by Rob Johnson on 16 January 2022.

Could be flaked hose or cutting gear/tools? Someone will know?

Added by Grant Melville on 16 January 2022.

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