Evanston Fire Department history Part 55

From Phil Stenholm:

Another installment in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.

ALMOST DONE
All three of Evanston’s new fire stations were completed and put into service in 1955. Station #5 opened at 2830 Central Street on January 25th, Station #2 at 702 Madison Street on March 12th, and Station #3 at 1105 Central Street on September 3rd.

Before its new location was ready, Engine Company 23 and the reserve truck were temporarily moved from Fire Station #3 on Green Bay Road to the newly built Station #5 in northwest Evanston. Station #3 closed on January 25th, and during its final days, the old apparatus floor was supported by temporary wooden beams in the basement. Because Engine Co. 23 had to move quickly, Engine Co. 25 stayed at Station #1 for most of 1955 and didn’t relocate to Station #5 until Station #3 was fully operational in September.

On March 12th, Chief Dorband, the Fire Prevention Bureau, and Truck Company 22 moved to the new Station #2 on Madison Street. At that time, the two assistant chiefs who previously served as platoon commanders at Station #1 were relieved of their company officer duties and were given a Chevrolet station wagon (known as “F-2”) and a driver. This made them more like Chicago FD battalion chiefs. Chief Dorband only responded to active fires. If he was off-duty, his driver would pick him up at his home on Wesley Avenue and bring him to the scene.

The Evanston Fire Department grew from 88 to 100 members on April 1, 1955, with the hiring of Peter Erpelding, David Henderson, Roger Lecey, Roger Schumacher, Joseph Burton, Patrick Morrison, Robert Pritza, Richard Ruske, Donald Searles, Frank Sherry Jr., and Richard Zrazik, plus Edward Pettinger returning from leave. Firemen James Wheeler and William Windelborn were promoted to captain, replacing the former platoon commanders as company officers.

Squad 21 continued responding to inhalator calls and special rescues, but starting April 1st, it also took all fire calls city-wide with a four-man crew or at least three if someone was missing. Squad 21 didn’t have a company officer, so the platoon equipment mechanic usually led the team. In 1956, Squad 21 handled over 400 calls—25% more than the busiest engine company, Engine Co. 24.

Although Squad 21 had a 1000-GPM pump, a 100-gallon water tank, and a booster hose reel, it lacked a hose bed and standard hose load, so it couldn’t operate as an engine company. However, it could respond to minor fires or assist in limited fire suppression if no engine company was available.

Engine Co. 21, Truck Co. 21, Engine Co. 25, Squad 21, Engine Co. 22, and Truck Co. 22 were twelve-man companies, with six men per platoon. Engine Co. 23 and 24 were ten-man companies, with five per platoon. However, the F-2 driver (for the platoon commander) was assigned administratively to Squad 21, and the F-1 driver (for the chief) was assigned to Engine Co. 22, reducing each by one man on any given shift.

One person per shift was on a Kelly Day, meaning actual staffing varied. On most shifts, Engine Co. 21, Truck Co. 21, Engine Co. 25, Squad 21 (including F-2 driver), Engine Co. 22 (including F-1 driver), and Truck Co. 22 had five members, or four if someone was missing. Engine Co. 23 and 24 typically had four or three if short. The truck company would take an extra man from the engine company if needed.

Each shift had a platoon commander, plus a driver and radio operator for the platoon commander (F-2), and a driver/administrator for the chief (F-1). Buggy drivers also served as EFD photographers. One person was assigned as a fire prevention inspector and assistant to the FPB chief (F-3).

As of April 1, 1955, the maximum shift staffing was 39 if all companies were full, and the minimum was 31 if all were short. Companies usually operated at full strength from November to March, when vacations weren’t allowed, and sometimes ran short in spring, summer, and early fall when vacation time was permitted. Overtime days accumulated during winter could be used then.

This staffing level brought EFD back to pre-World War II levels, similar to 1933–1942, before Kelly Days were introduced. Along with new equipment and new stations, restoring staffing to pre-war standards was one of the main goals of Chief Dorband’s modernization plan.

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