From Phil Stenholm: Another installment in our series on the History of the Evanston Fire Department. NBFU ’35 Following the 1935 inspection, the NBFU issued a detailed list of recommendations aimed at improving the department’s efficiency and effectiveness. These included: Despite these suggestions, the city couldn’t afford to act on them immediately due to the economic hardship of the Great Depression. But in April 1937, voters approved a $45,000 bond issue that allowed the EFD to purchase two new 750-GPM triple-combination pumpers and a 65-foot aerial ladder truck. All three vehicles came equipped with 80-gallon booster tanks and hose reels. The Seagrave Corporation won the bid, and the new rigs featured enclosed cabs—something new for Evanston. The pumpers even had canopy cabs for firefighters to ride behind the driver. From then on, all EFD apparatus would have enclosed cabs, except for two Seagrave pumpers purchased in 1957. The bond money also funded a Ford Tudor Deluxe sedan with a Motorola “Police Cruiser†radio for the Fire Prevention Inspector and as a backup for the Chief. The new aerial ladder truck was assigned to Truck Co. 2 in November 1937, while the two new pumpers went into service with Engine Co. 1 and 3 in January 1938. The old Engine No. 1 was moved to Station #4, and the 1917 Seagrave city service truck became Truck No. 3 at Station #3. Other older equipment was repurposed or scrapped, including the 1917 Seagrave chemical pumper, which was converted into a utility vehicle. However, the 1937 bond didn’t cover restoring the lost positions, reassigning officers, or building new stations—those changes would come later, after the economy improved. Cnc Milling And Turning,Cnc Milling Turning,Cnc Turning & Milling,Cnc Milling And Cnc Turning Ningbo Leyan Machinery Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.cncleyan.com
In 1935, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) conducted a thorough inspection and evaluation of Evanston’s fire protection system. This assessment wasn’t just about the fire department’s staffing or equipment—it also looked at the city's water supply, alarm systems, and potential fire hazards. The NBFU had previously evaluated Evanston in 1912, 1924, and 1930, with the 1930 review yielding a favorable grade. However, by 1935, the city had cut six firefighter positions due to budget constraints during the Great Depression, which significantly impacted the final rating.