Chicago Fire Department

Chicago Fire Department (CFD)
Operational area
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
City Chicago
Coordinates41°49′50″N 87°37′26″W / 41.83056°N 87.62389°W / 41.83056; -87.62389
Agency overview
EstablishedAugust 2, 1858; 166 years ago (1858-08-02)[1]
Annual calls888,110 (2018)[2]
Employees5,173 (2017)[2]
CommissionerAnnette Nance Holt
EMS levelAdvanced Life Support (ALS) & Basic Life Support (BLS)
IAFFLocal 2
Motto"We're There When You Need Us"
Facilities and equipment
Divisions5
Battalions25
Stations96
Engines96
Trucks61
Squads4
Ambulances80
HAZMAT2
USAR2
Airport crash10
Helicopters2
Fireboats2
Website
www.chicago.gov/fire
www.iaff-local2.org

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides firefighting services along with emergency medical response services, hazardous materials mitigation services, and technical rescue response services in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second-largest municipal fire department in the United States after the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). It is also one of the oldest major organized fire departments in the nation. It has numerous general purpose and specialized vehicles and equipment to accomplish its missions.

The Chicago Fire Department is led by the Fire Commissioner, currently Annette Nance-Holt. The Fire Commissioner is appointed by the mayor of Chicago, is confirmed by the Chicago City Council, and is assisted by the First Deputy Commissioner, who oversees the department's bureaus. There are four bureaus under the command of the First Deputy Commissioner: Operations, Fire Prevention, Administrative Services, and Logistics.

The Chicago Fire Department receives over 800,000 emergency calls annually.[3]

History

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The "Washington Volunteers," the first fire company, was established in 1832.

The first Chicago regulation, which forbade "the passing of any stove pipe through the roof, partition, or siding of any building, unless guarded by tin or iron six inches from the wood," was passed in November 1833. For this infraction, there was a $5.00 fine.[4]

Chicago Fire Department truck, circa 1909

The volunteer fire department was disestablished on August 2, 1858, when the city council passed the ordinance organizing the paid City of Chicago Fire Department.[1]

Organization

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Chicago firefighters responding to a call on Michigan Ave. wearing pre-2006 turnout gear.

Bureaus

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There are four Bureaus within the Chicago Fire Department: Bureau of Operations, Bureau of Administrative Services, Bureau of Logistics and Bureau of Fire Prevention. Each of the four Bureaus are commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner, who then reports to the 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner, who in turn reports to the Fire Commissioner.

Bureau of Operations

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The Bureau of Operations is the largest Bureau within the Chicago Fire Department. The Bureau of Operations commands the following Divisions: Fire Suppression & Rescue, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Special Operations Command, and the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI). The Bureau of Operations is composed of over 4,500 Uniformed Firefighters and EMS personnel and is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner[5]

The Fire Suppression and Rescue Division is organized into 5 Districts which command a total of 24 Battalions and 1 Special Operations Battalion.

Bureau Of Administrative Services

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The Bureau of Administrative Services commands the following Divisions: Personnel, Training, the Photo Unit, and the Employee Assistance Program. The Bureau Of Administrative Services is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner.[6]

Bureau of Logistics

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The Bureau of Logistics commands the following Divisions: Support Services, Support & Logistics (EMS), Equipment & Supply, Building & Property Management, Record, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Staff/Human Relations, the Pension Board, the Regulatory Compliance, and Management Information Systems/Technology. The Bureau of Logistics is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner.[7]

Bureau of Fire Prevention

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The Bureau of Fire Prevention commands the following Divisions: Code Compliance and Inspections. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner.[8]

Operations

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The Bureau of Operations is one of four Bureaus within the organization of the Chicago Fire Department. Like the other Bureaus, the Bureau of Operations is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner, who reports to the 1st Deputy Commissioner, who in-turn reports to the Fire Commissioner. The Bureau of Operations is currently the largest Bureau within the Chicago Fire Department and is organized into four Divisions: Fire Suppression and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Special Operations (including the Technical Rescue Unit, the Hazardous Materials Unit, and the Air-Sea Rescue Unit), and the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI). The Fire Suppression and Rescue Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner. The Special Operations Division and the EMS Division are also commanded by an Assistant Deputy Commissioner. The Office of Fire Investigation (OFI) is under the command of the Commanding Fire Marshal, equivalent to the rank of Deputy District Chief. [5][9]

Fire station locations and apparatus

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The Chicago Fire Department is organized into 5 Districts, which command a total of 24 Battalions and a Special Operations Battalion.[10][11]

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The Chicago Fire Department cooperated with film director Ron Howard on making the 1991 film Backdraft, starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, and Robert De Niro.

The NBC television show Chicago Fire, centers on a group of fictional firefighters and paramedics at a firehouse that is the headquarters of the fictitious Engine Company 51, Truck Company 81, Rescue Squad Company 3, Battalion Chief 25 (previously reassigned to another firehouse, now returned to Firehouse 51), Deputy District Chief 2-2-6 (reassigned to another Firehouse), and Ambulance 61 (represented by the headquarters for real Engine Company 18).[12]

The arcade game Emergency Call Ambulance takes place in Chicago. Players would take the role of an unnamed Chicago Fire Department Paramedic and ambulance driver, as they race through Chicago streets to save lives in 4 different cases.

Ranks

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Title Duties Promotion criteria Insignia
Fire Commissioner Commands the entire Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Mayor of Chicago and confirmed by the Chicago City Council
First Deputy Fire Commissioner Second in Command of the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
Deputy Fire Commissioner Commands a Bureau in the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Commands a Division in the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
District Chief Commands a Fire District in the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
Deputy District Chief Second in Command of a Fire District in the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic Commands an EMS Field Division in the Chicago Fire Department Appointed by the Fire Commissioner
Battalion Chief Commands a Fire Battalion in the Chicago Fire Department By examination
Paramedic Field Chief Commands an EMS District in the Chicago Fire Department By examination
Captain Commands the company/unit they are assigned to, and the fire station that they are assigned to By examination
Ambulance Commander Supervises other Paramedics In Charge (PICs) By examination
Lieutenant Commands the company/unit they are assigned to By examination
Paramedic In Charge Commands an Ambulance Crew UNKNOWN
Engineer Drives/Operates a fire vehicle By examination UNKNOWN
Paramedic Provides medical aid to patients Must pass a 1 year probationary period from Candidate paramedic NONE
Firefighter/ Firefighter EMT/ Firefighter Paramedic Provides Fire Suppression and Rescue services, may also be cross trained as either an EMT or Paramedic Must pass a 1 year probationary period from Candidate Firefighter/ Candidate Firefighter EMT/ Candidate Firefighter Paramedic NONE
Candidate Firefighter/ Candidate Firefighter EMT/ Candidate Firefighter Paramedic Must prove that they belong in the Chicago Fire Department, during their 1 year probationary period Must graduate from the Fire Academy NONE
Candidate Paramedic Must prove that they belong in the Chicago Fire Department, during their 1 year probationary period Must graduate from the Fire Academy NONE

[13]

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  • Quarters of Engine 38, Truck 48, and Ambulance 77 in the North Lawndale area
    Quarters of Engine 38, Truck 48, and Ambulance 77 in the North Lawndale area
  • Ambulance 77 & Engine 38 responding to a medical emergency on Roosevelt Ave.
    Ambulance 77 & Engine 38 responding to a medical emergency on Roosevelt Ave.
  • Scuba Team vehicle on Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park
    Scuba Team vehicle on Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park
  • CFD 1st Battalion Chief's Ford Explorer SUV
    CFD 1st Battalion Chief's Ford Explorer SUV
  • CFD Tower Ladder Company 10
    CFD Tower Ladder Company 10
  • CFD Truck Company 58
    CFD Truck Company 58
  • CFD Haz-Mat. Incident Team (H.I.T.) Unit 5-1-1
    CFD Haz-Mat. Incident Team (H.I.T.) Unit 5-1-1
  • Ambulance 77 at St. Anthony's Hospital
    Ambulance 77 at St. Anthony's Hospital

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "History of the Chicago Fire Department" (PDF). Chicago Fire Department. June 10, 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Request for Information from Annual Budget Committee Hearing" (PDF). Chicago Fire Department. October 31, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Firehouse Run Report 2019: The Country's Busiest Departments and Ambulances". EMS World. December 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Chicago Fire Department. "HISTORY OF THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT" (PDF).
  5. ^ a b "City of Chicago :: Operations". Cityofchicago.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "City of Chicago :: Administrative Services". Cityofchicago.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "City of Chicago :: Employee Relations". Cityofchicago.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "City of Chicago :: Fire Prevention". Cityofchicago.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Chicago Fire Department Organizational Chart" (PDF). Cityofchicago.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "Radio Station Identification Numbers" (PDF). Chicagofd.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  11. ^ "Chicago Fire Dept - Districts & Battalions". Plaws.net. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  12. ^ "Chicago Fire Department". GREC Architects. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  13. ^ https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cfd/auto_generated/cfd_our_structure.html
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