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Bill Friedrich has started a new series of posts exploring the different types of fire apparatus that served in Chicago. The first post focuses on the Ward LaFrance engines from 1970, highlighting their significance and unique features.
In 1970, seven P80 engines were delivered to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), one for each district. These units were assigned to 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 of these engines was equipped with a powerful 2,000-GPM pump and carried 500 gallons of water. They were built on the Ambassador chassis and represented a significant upgrade in firefighting technology at the time.
Several of these units have been preserved or restored over the years. For example, Engine 113 was one of the original 1970 models and is shown here with its original 2,000-GPM pump. Another unit, Engine 22, was later reassigned to Engine 99 and then to Engine 46 after a complete refurbishment. Notably, this engine was damaged in a wall collapse and had to be rebuilt, which altered some of its original design elements.
Engine 73, assigned to shop number D-373, was the only 1970 model that wasn’t later rebuilt. Meanwhile, Engine 126 retained its full-height polished metal behind the pump panel, a feature that many others lost during later modifications. Engine 106 originally featured just the CFD name above the windshield, without the more elaborate graphics seen on other units.
By 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 modern components. The updated vehicles 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). All were equipped with 5-inch hose and served in different districts across the city.
Interestingly, two of these rebuilt units, D-374 and D-375, were used in the movie *Backdraft*, adding a bit of Hollywood flair to their history. Today, these engines stand as a testament to both the evolution of fire apparatus and the dedication of the Chicago Fire Department.