Evanston Fire Department history Part 73

From Phil Stenholm: Another chapter in the story of the History of the Evanston Fire Department HAPPY BIRTHDAY! On May 1, 1975, the Evanston City Council approved bids for a brand-new 1,000/300 triple-combination pumper. This pumper matched the specs of the two Howes we bought the previous year. It was meant to replace Engine 25, a 1952 Pirsch 1000/100 TCP that had been Squad 21 before being rebuilt as a TCP by General Body back in 1966. Mack won the bid with a price tag of $53,725, edging out FWD Seagrave, Pirsch, and others. As always, Chief George Beattie insisted on painting this new Mack "safety yellow," just like our other Howes. That same year, Chief Beattie got a new Plymouth sedan (fleet #301) in red rather than safety yellow. His old 1973 station wagon moved down to the platoons as the new F-2 after a light bar was added. The former F-2, a 1971 Dodge station wagon, went to the Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB) for use by the new fire investigation unit, or "arson squad." Each shift would have a trained investigator. Firefighters Bob Schwarz, Pat Lynn, and Jim Hayes were chosen for this role. During this reorganization, one of the two FPB captain spots was eliminated after Capt. Joe Thill retired. As part of the agreement following the firefighters' strike in February 1974, the average workweek dropped from 56 hours to 54. Two new positions were created in 1975, increasing total staffing to 102. Now, one firefighter per shift covers absences on short days, with three covering vacations and sick leave. This brought the effective minimum shift staffing down from 28 to 27. We still have six three-man companies (five engines and Truck 22), two four-man companies (Truck 21 and Squad 21), and the shift commander (F-2). Eighteen new firefighters joined us in 1974-75, including Samuel Boddie, Art Miller, Bill Betke, Jim Potts, Dave Lopina, Bob Hayden, Mike Adam, Don Gschwind, Thomas Simpson, Joe Hayes, Bob Wagner, Keith Filipowski, Ken Dohm, Tom Kavanagh, Milton Dunbar, Ward Cook, Jim Keaty, and Donald Williams. Firefighter James "Guv" Whalen became a captain, Harry Harloff and Ken Perysian retired after 23 years, and several others left. On May 28, 1975, we responded to a fire at Rust-Oleum's storage yard on Oakton Street. A second alarm went out as soon as the first companies arrived, and eventually, we called a MABAS box. It was the first time the EFD had done so since the system started in 1968. At its height, 19 2-1/2-inch handlines, two deluge nozzles, one multi-versal, one ladder pipe, one street jack, and one deck gun worked to control the blaze. Many 55-gallon drums of paint exploded, sending debris flying hundreds of feet. Evanston police evacuated nearby homes to the east and north. A 200,000-gallon tank near Cleveland and Hartrey supplied water through a 24-inch feeder main from Church Street. This tank fed Rust-Oleum's own 1,000-GPM pump and the neighborhood's residential mains. Engines from Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Morton Grove, and Winnetka helped pump water from hydrants around the area, even tapping into one at the end of Cleveland Street near the C&NW RR tracks. The fire was finally contained after causing $775,000 in damage, ranking it the fourth worst fire in Evanston's history at that time. Only the American Hospital Supply fire in October 1963, Rolled Steel in January 1970, and Bramson's in October 1971 caused more destruction. Despite the losses, the Rust-Oleum fire remains one of the most spectacular in our city's history! The next day, May 29, 1975, marked the Evanston Fire Department's centennial. While the official establishment date was May 29, 1875, the actual beginning was January 7, 1873, when the 60-member Pioneer Fire Company began operations. The 1875 ordinance wasn't about creating a fire department but formalizing how new companies could join. By then, the C.J. Gilbert Hose Company was already forming. The ordinance also made the fire marshal the chief, placing all companies under his command. This was truly a historic moment for our department, celebrating 100 years of service to the community. It reminded us of where we've come from and the challenges we've overcome over the decades.

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