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CFD Apparatus History – Ward LaFrance trucks (1970)
Part 2 of the series on the CFD's Ward LaFrance apparatus in Chicago focuses on the Grove aerials. Bill Friedrich shared this detailed information:
There were a total of five WLF P80/Grove 100-foot rear-mount aerials ordered. These units were assigned to Truck 12 (E-183), Truck 34 (E-184), Truck 21 (E-185), Truck 18 (E-186), and Truck 7 (E-187). Each of these trucks was initially equipped with booster reels, though these were later removed from Trucks 12 and 18.
Several photos from Bill Friedrich and other photographers provide a visual look at these historic rigs. The image of Truck 18 shows its 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' rear mount aerial, highlighting the iconic design of the era. Another photo of Truck 12 features the same aerial but with the booster reel removed, indicating some modifications over time.
Truck 7’s unit also had the 100-foot aerial, and a photo taken at the fire academy shows the booster reel visible above the ground ladders. Meanwhile, Truck 34 was seen during a fire prevention week parade on State Street, still carrying its original equipment.
Later, Truck 21’s apparatus (E-185) was reassigned to Truck 39, and Truck 7’s unit was moved to Truck 61. This reassignment marked the end of an era for some of these classic rigs. A photo of Truck 61 shows it now carrying the former Truck 7 unit, while another image of Truck 39 displays the same apparatus after the booster reel had been removed prior to its new assignment.
These photographs offer a glimpse into the history of the Chicago Fire Department’s fleet and the evolution of its aerial equipment over time.
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