Some additional details about the aerial ladder trucks acquired by the Chicago Fire Department in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Over time, some people have asked about the fact that several of these units were delivered with booster reels and large water tanks—specifically, 300- or even 500-gallon capacity. These were not standard features at the time, making them somewhat unique for the era.

The CFD purchased a variety of aerials during this period, including several models from different manufacturers. Here’s a breakdown of the types of units acquired:

  • (3) 1968 Mack CF/Pirsch 100-foot aerials – These featured red cab faces and came equipped with 300-gallon water tanks.
  • (1) 1968 Seagrave aerial – This unit had an FWD chassis with rear steering and was assigned to Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport. It also included a 500-gallon booster tank and twin reels.
  • (8) 1970 Seagrave rear-mount aerials – These had 250-gallon tanks and were used on various engine companies.
  • (5) 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove units – Assigned to Truck 7, 12, 18, 21, and 34, these had 300-gallon tanks and were also fitted with booster systems.
  • (3) 1972 Mack CF 700/Pirsch 100-foot aerials – These had a silver cab face and were equipped with 300-gallon tanks and booster reels.

At some point, the department removed the water tanks and booster reels from many of these units, as seen in some of the older photos. This likely happened due to changes in operational needs or maintenance practices over the years.

In upcoming posts, I’ll share more images and information about these historic units. For now, the photos below give a glimpse into the design and equipment of these early 1970s aerials.

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 booster systems from 1967 and 1968, showing how these features evolved over time. These units represent an important chapter in the history of the department’s firefighting equipment.

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