From Phil Stenholm:
Another Chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department
Hi all,
I wanted to share some interesting insights into the early 1930s for the Evanston Fire Department (EFD). In 1935, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) conducted a thorough inspection and evaluation of the City of Evanston's fire protection services. This evaluation covered various aspects such as manpower, firefighting equipment, facilities, training programs, and code enforcement efforts. Additionally, the NBFU looked into the community's water supply systems, fire alarm networks, and potential fire risks to determine an overall rating.
Evanston had previously undergone similar assessments in 1912, 1924, and 1930, consistently receiving positive evaluations. Unfortunately, following the economic downturn of the Great Depression, the city had to make budget cuts which led to reducing the EFD staff by six positions. This change negatively impacted the department's performance metrics and consequently affected the final score in the 1935 assessment.
Post-assessment, the NBFU offered several recommendations aimed at improving the EFD. These included relieving two platoon commanders of certain duties so they could focus solely on administrative tasks, restoring the six lost positions, hiring extra personnel to boost nighttime coverage, constructing a new fire station, upgrading existing vehicles, establishing a dedicated repair facility, creating a formal training program, assigning specific shifts to assist with fire safety inspections, and increasing the frequency of vehicle maintenance checks.
Due to financial constraints imposed by the ongoing depression, many of these suggestions couldn't be immediately adopted. Nevertheless, hope emerged when Evanston residents approved a $45,000 bond in April 1937. This funding enabled the acquisition of two advanced 750 GPM triple-combination pumpers and a brand-new 65-foot aerial-ladder truck, all featuring state-of-the-art features like enclosed cabs and 80-gallon booster tanks. The contract went to Seagrave, who delivered vehicles with innovative designs including canopy cabs allowing firefighters comfortable seating options.
By November 1937, the new aerial-ladder truck joined Truck Company 2, while the two newly acquired pumpers became operational with Engine Companies 1 and 3 in January 1938. Older vehicles underwent modifications or reassignments; for instance, Engine No. 1 moved to Station 4, and former Truck No. 2 transitioned to reserve status as Truck No. 3 at Station 3.
Despite these upgrades, challenges remained. The bond funds fell short of covering all desired improvements, particularly concerning personnel levels and infrastructure development. Thus, while progress occurred incrementally, full realization of the NBFU's vision awaited future opportunities.
Best regards,
Phil
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