CFD Apparatus History – trucks with boosters

Some additional details about the aerial ladders acquired by the Chicago Fire Department in the late 1960s and early 1970s have sparked interest. Many have asked why several of these units were delivered with booster reels and 300- or even 500-gallon water tanks. During this period, the CFD purchased a variety of aerial apparatus, each with unique features and configurations. The fleet included: - (3) 1968 Mack CF/Pirsch 100-foot aerials, featuring red cab faces and 300-gallon tanks - (1) 1968 Seagrave aerial with an FWD chassis and rear steering, assigned to Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport - (8) 1970 Seagrave rear-mounts, equipped with 250-gallon tanks - (5) 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove units, assigned to Truck 7, 12, 18, 21, and 34, each with 300-gallon tanks - (3) 1972 Mack CF 700/Pirsch 100-foot aerials, with silver cab faces and 300-gallon tanks At some point, the department removed the booster reels and drained the water tanks, as seen in some of the photos below. This was likely part of a modernization effort or a shift in operational needs. Future posts will showcase more of these historic units, but the images here provide a glimpse into the equipment that once served the city. These photos are from Larry Shapiro’s collection and offer a rare look at the CFD’s past.
Chicago Fire Department 1968 Seagrave Rear Admiral O'hare Airport

This is a 1968 Seagrave Rear Admiral 100′ aerial with a 500-gallon booster tank and twin booster reels. It features an FWD chassis with rear steering and was assigned to Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport. Larry Shapiro photo

Chicago Fire Department Truck 5 1972 Mack CF Pirsch

Truck 5 was assigned one of three 1972 100-foot Pirsch rear-mount aerials mounted on a Mack CF chassis with a 500-gallon water tank and twin booster reels. Larry Shapiro photo

Earlier posts in this series covered CFD trucks with boosters from 1967 and 1968, showing how the department gradually upgraded its equipment over time. These historical pieces help us understand the evolution of fire apparatus in Chicago.

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