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Chicago Fire Department - Squad 5
Fire Engine Photos
No: 3657   Contributor: Lou Angeli   Year: 2007   Manufacturer: HME   Country: United States of America
Chicago Fire Department - Squad 5

This 2006 Ferrara purpose-built apparatus is one of 5 operated by the Chicago Fire Department. These squads respond on working alarms to boost manpower and serve as a hardware store on wheels. The firefighters assigned to the Squad are cross trained and can assume any function as assigned by the Command Officer. Although the front bumper has an inch and 3/4 hoseline (high-rise pack) there is no pump. The rig carries a 50' Snorkel and a huge selection of rescue and hand tools.

Please note: The members of the Chicago Fire Department are very traditional. Their turnout coats are the old rubberized variety of 30 years ago, and they prefer to wear traditional fire boots, turned down at the knee.
Picture added on 21 July 2007
add commentComments:
Some of the information here is wrong. Ferrara did not build these squads, they are Central States/HME and built in 2000 not 2006. Also they run as 2 piece units(Squads 1, 2&5) a regular rescue body and the '55 snorkel making 6 in all city wide.

Added by Eng13_trk12 on 03 January 2008.
As of 2007 the CFD finally switched as the last US big city fire department to the "bunker gear" (I think the manufacturer's actually Lion Apparel) which means these classic Nomex ruberized coats and hip boots are mostly no longer seen. What a pity..

Added by David Nemecek on 21 March 2009.
So, what is the manpower of this 2 piece company and what equipment is carried on each piece?

Added by Shareef on 28 September 2009.
Chicago's Squad Companies Comprises 6 Units,Squads 1,2,and 5 are the typical heavy rescue apparatus and are from the year 2000,they are HME 1871 SFO/Central States Rescue box-type vehicles,where as the 2nd unit to each Squad Company-1A,2A,and 5A are from the same year,2000.These apparatus again are HME 1871 SFO/Central States/Snorkel 55ft apparatus.Both units of each of the 3 Squad Companies ride with a crew of 6 and as a pair,and are always very busy CFD Companies.

Added by Pete Matten on 12 October 2009.
Never knew that CFD had stayed with the long coats and long rubbers....had always wondered how long the rubber would last, in an Interior Attack with SCBA's....probably, only just a bit longer than the yellow "boil-in-a-bag" leggings....

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 12 October 2009.
I am a fire fighter and my department still uses 3/4 boots and long coats and we are full time!

Added by John on 26 December 2009.
Which Fire Department, John ?

Would you be able to post a picture or two; for this 'Site ?

For a rural Fire Department, with very little Interior Attack(eg "Basement-Savers"); always thought that the Long Coat and Boots, would be far more practical; especially when trying to struggle into the 2-piece bunker gear, roadside, out of a Carry-All Bag - in a snow-storm, ice, rain, etc.......

For brush-fire and grass-fire calls; we wear the much lighter Nomex coveralls {boiler suits), anyway.

Still, I suppose Liability (NFPA) rules !

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 29 December 2009.
So, each Squad Co has a total of 12 members responding(ex. Squad 1 with 6 members and 1A with 6 members as well?) Am I understanding this correctly?

Added by Shareef on 30 December 2009.
There are 6 assigned in total for the snorkel & the chase rig (box). As for the old boots & coats, they are long gone, CFD now use bunker gear.

Added by Eng13_trk12 on 30 December 2009.
So 3 men on each piece. I get it now. Thx

Added by Shareef on 31 December 2009.
Is the job of these Squad Companies still primarily search and rescue? Do these companies have their own house or do they share quarters with other companies?

Added by Shareef on 31 December 2009.
Do both the box units and snorkels have to respond together or can just one respond?

Added by David Jones on 27 December 2010.
Both respond together.

Added by Squad546 on 27 December 2010.
These Squad Companies are the newer version of the old SS Companies. I was trained on SS-1 (Snorkel Squad 1)that was housed out of Division & Orleans Street. Same concept of specialists on two rigs. Now, with multiple Squad Companies, CFD offers better protection on a city wide basis. At the time, our Still & Box response was the entire city. This made for alot of running. Current Comissioner Hoff was also a SS-1 member. Of course, we also had Flying Squads too !!

Added by Fred on 23 May 2011.
last time I was in Chicago was in 1998 or 1999, and did a ride-along with snorkel squad 2 which was housed with an engine co. and a Dist. chief up on N. Pulaski, and Snorkel 5 was housed at 5955 S. Ashland Ave. I think with Amb.43, and either E-116 or E-117. Sorry to hear Comm. Hoff left the CFD. he did a lot of good for the de pt. and his men.

Added by FF. Jim Lamont Sligo FD.(PA.) on 05 September 2012.
Do they squads always respond w/ both apparatus or do the occasionally respond separately? For example, would Squad 1 or 1A ever respond alone?

Added by Shareef on 05 September 2012.
When "main" assigns a run to the Squad Co, both units go as one. They have never operated independently. Although, look at some of the spare rigs assigned to the Squads when one unit or other is down. Someone in "shops" has a sense of humor!

Added by Fred on 05 September 2012.
Comment removed at request of Commentor
What is the difference in equipment carried between the 2 apparatus? Does Squad 5 carry rescue equipment and Squad 5A carry all the companies suppression equipment?

Added by Adam Maravelis on 18 May 2013.
Comment removed at request of Commentor
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