historic fire in Chicago

All posts tagged historic fire in Chicago

From the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown dates, locations, and photographers.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

Vintage Chicago fire scene with Snorkel

from the collection of Wayne Stuart – unknown date, location, and photographer.

I just returned from Arkansas. I brought back the rest of my dad’s fire collection and was surprised to find this. 5-11 and 4 Specials at 32nd Place & Bensen in Chicago. I remember dad took this in while I was at school, and I hadn’t seen this photo for many years. I believe the Snorkel setting up may have been SS-1. Most of the shots of this fire I have seen are black & white.

Steve Redick

massive historic fire in Chicago

5-11 and 4 Specials at 32nd and Bensen in Chicago. Warren Redick photo

From the collection of Steve Redick:

April 12, 1953,  5-11 with many dead, Haber Corporation 908 W North Ave

historic deadly fire in Chicago

April 12, 1953 5-11 with many dead Haber Corporation 908 W North Ave . Steve Redick collection

March 13, 1965,  2-11 at Fulton & Damen in Chicago

classic 1965 Chicago fire scene

March 13, 1965, 2-11 at Fulton & Damen in Chicago. Steve Redick collection

This image is from January 1986 … a dark day in the CFD. This was the Mark Twain Hotel, 111 W Division, and Lt Edmund Coglianese of 98 was killed here. The fire ocurred on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Bears played New England. The real scope of this tragedy was overshadowed by the super bowl victory … a terrible situation made so much worse by the hooplah of the victory. This was a dumpy SRO with tiny cubicle-like rooms. I believe the the Lt either had a mask malfunction and or ran out of air. They had an aweful time getting him out of the building.

I can only imagine how bad conditions were in this case … maze-like interior, zero visibility, severe fire conditions, difficult searches, and a tough time getting a line down what must have been a long nasty hallway. I had recently met Edmund when he brought his son’s Boyscout troop up to the office for a tour. A nice man who left behind a wonderful family. I will never forget the fact that he was the one who answered me on the amplifier when I gave him what turned out to be his last run … this still stays with me 30 years later. I can only imagine the pain his family must still feel every day.

Steve Redick

 tragic fire scene photo from Chicago