Evanston Fire Department history Part 40

From Phil Stenholm:

Another part in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.

NBFU ’35

In 1935, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) conducted a thorough inspection and evaluation of Evanston’s fire protection system. The assessment covered not only the fire department’s staffing, equipment, training, and code enforcement but also the city's water supply, alarm systems, and potential fire hazards. Previous evaluations had taken place in 1912, 1924, and 1930, with Evanston receiving a positive rating in 1930. However, due to the Great Depression, the city had reduced six firefighter positions in 1933, which significantly impacted the 1935 evaluation result.

The NBFU issued a detailed list of recommendations aimed at improving the department’s effectiveness. These included:

  1. Relieving the two platoon commanders from truck company duties and providing them with an automobile and driver;
  2. Restoring the six positions cut in 1933;
  3. Hiring more personnel to increase nighttime staffing for engine and truck companies;
  4. Building a fifth fire station at Grant & Central Park with a 750-GPM pumper;
  5. Upgrading pumpers at Stations #3 and #4 to 750-GPM;
  6. Transferring the 500-GPM pumper from Station #4 to Station #1 as the inhalator squad;
  7. Constructing a new Station #2 with space for a ladder truck and relocating Truck Co. 2;
  8. Building a new Station #3 with a third truck company;
  9. Dedicating a bay for a repair shop with spare parts;
  10. Establishing a training school with a senior officer;
  11. Assigning one company per shift to assist with fire code inspections;
  12. Testing pumpers twice a year instead of once;

Despite these suggestions, the city struggled financially during the Depression and couldn’t implement any changes immediately. But in April 1937, voters approved a $45,000 bond to modernize the department. The funds were used to purchase two 750-GPM triple-combination pumpers and a 65-foot aerial ladder truck from Seagrave—each equipped with an 80-gallon booster tank. This marked the first time EFD vehicles had enclosed cabs, allowing firefighters to ride on jump seats rather than the back step. Future apparatus would follow this design, except for two Seagrave pumpers bought in 1957.

The new ladder truck entered service in November 1937 with Truck Co. 2, while the two new pumpers joined Engine Co. 1 and 3 in January 1938. Old units were reclassified or repurposed: Engine No. 1 was moved to Station #4, and the 1917 Seagrave truck became Truck No. 3 at Station #3. Some older equipment was retired or repurposed for utility use. However, the bond didn’t cover restoring staff or building new stations, so those changes would have to wait for better financial times.

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