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Bill Friedrich has started a series of posts exploring the different types of fire apparatus that served in Chicago. The first post focuses on the Ward LaFrance engines delivered in 1970. These units were distributed across the city, one for each district, and marked an important era in the Chicago Fire Department’s fleet.
There were seven P80 models delivered in 1970, each assigned to a different engine company. The units included Engine 126 (D-372), Engine 73 (D-373), Engine 8 (D-374), Engine 106 (D-375), Engine 22 (D-376), Engine 113 (D-377), and Engine 49 (D-378). Each was equipped with a 2,000-GPM pump and carried 500 gallons of water. These trucks were built on the Ambassador chassis and represented a significant upgrade in performance and reliability for the department at the time.
One of these units, Engine 113, is shown here with its original 2,000-GPM pump and Ambassador chassis. It was one of the few units that remained largely untouched over the years. Another unit, Engine 22, underwent several reassignments and a complete refurbishment. The changes to its graphics, such as the CFD scramble on the door and red unit numbers, were added later. This particular truck was damaged during a wall collapse and had to be rebuilt, with some design elements like the hand rail and red panel above the pump panel being altered.
Engine 73, which was originally assigned to shop #D-373, was the only 1970 model that wasn’t later rebuilt. Meanwhile, Engine 126 retained its full polished metal panel behind the pump, a feature that was unique to this unit. Engine 106 had the original graphics with just the Chicago Fire Department name above the windshield, while Engine 8, stationed in Chinatown, showcased the unit when it first entered service.
In 1990, six of the original 1970 P80s were rebuilt by Able Fire Equipment Co. in Frankfort, Illinois. The rebuild included a Ranger 4-door cab, a new aluminum Emergency One body, a 140-gallon foam tank, and other updated components. The rebuilt units were assigned to Engine 122 (formerly Engine 126), Engine 69 (formerly Engine 8), Engine 113 (formerly Engine 106), Engine 46 (formerly Engine 22), Engine 14 (formerly Engine 113), and Engine 34 (formerly Engine 49). Each of these units was equipped with 5-inch hose and served in a different district.
Notably, two of the rebuilt units, D-374 and D-375, appeared in the movie *Backdraft*. Engine 113, now equipped with a Ranger/E-One body, can be seen in a photo showing its transformation. Engine 34, formerly Engine 49, also received a rebuilt version, while Engine 14 featured an extended bumper with an LDH system. Other units, like Engine 122, 69, and 46, show the updated look after their refurbs, with photos capturing their work on the fireground.
These vehicles represent not only a piece of Chicago’s firefighting history but also the evolution of emergency response equipment over the decades. Bill Friedrich's detailed documentation helps preserve this legacy for future generations.