From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment about the History of the Evanston Fire Department
THE FIREMAN
Back in 1954, the Evanston Fire Department (EFD) made a change in its ranks when the title of "lieutenant" was replaced with "captain II," while the previous rank of "captain" became "captain I." Captain II received a slightly higher salary than lieutenant, and a lieutenant had to serve at least one year in that role before being eligible for promotion to captain II. After serving as captain II for a year, the firefighter would automatically advance to captain I.
Of the seven lieutenants at the time, five—Leonard Bach, Herb Claussen, George “Bud†Hofstetter, George Jasper, and Willard Thiel—were promoted to captain II immediately since they had already accumulated more than a year of experience. However, Harry Schaeffer Jr. and Richard Schumacher, who had just been promoted to lieutenant on January 1, 1954, and thus had less than a year of service, had to wait until January 1, 1955, for their promotions. This made them the final lieutenants of the EFD, as all future promotions would skip the lieutenant rank entirely, moving straight from firefighter I to captain II.
During this period, the EFD faced two major "storefront" fires. The first happened on March 2, 1953, at the Suburban Surgical Supply Company store on Davis Street. As it was in the downtown high-value district, the initial response included three engine companies and one truck company. A second alarm summoned a fourth engine company, a second truck company, and Squad 21. Firefighters managed to confine the fire to the building of origin, but it still caused significant damage, gutting the store and resulting in an estimated loss of $100,000, placing it among the top five most costly fires in Evanston's history up to that point.
The second fire took place in September 1954 at the A & P supermarket on Central Street in North Evanston. Engine Co. 23 was first on the scene, noticing a light haze of smoke inside the store. When the second engine and truck arrived, they entered the store to investigate the source of the smoke. Unfortunately, the ceiling partially collapsed during their search. Fortunately, everyone escaped unharmed, though several firefighters—Capt. Ron Ford, Capt. Herb Claussen, and firemen Arnold Windle, Dave Tesnow, and Ted Bierchen—were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. A second alarm and recall of the off-duty platoon were issued, primarily to replace the injured personnel. Although not particularly dramatic, the fire caused an estimated $70,000 in losses from fire, smoke, and water damage, providing a close call for the EFD.
In October 1954, just as the public domain opened for this release, the EFD starred in an educational short film produced by Encyclopedia Britannica under the guidance of renowned educator Dr. Ernest Horn from the University of Iowa. Titled simply "The Fireman," the film shared similarities with the classic 1903 silent film "The Life of an American Fireman" by Edwin S. Porter. It showcased several Evanston firefighters and featured action sequences with the department's new Pirsch rigs. While it didn't win any Academy Awards, the film was screened in schools across the country.
SYNOPSIS (SPOILER ALERT!):
A rookie firefighter named "Tom Briggs" (not his real name, but let’s assume it’s Tom Kostopoulos since he’s a new recruit finishing his first year) arrives at Station No. 1 for duty. Chief "Jim" Dorband (real-life EFD Chief Henry Dorband) inspects the team and sends them off. Firefighter Tom is assigned as the tillerman on one of the aerial-ladder trucks under the supervision of Captain Drake (likely platoon drillmaster and Engine 25 Captain Ed Fahrbach).
Under the watchful eyes of Captain Drake and Chief Dorband, the team participates in a training exercise. Tom climbs the aerial-ladder with another firefighter to demonstrate the hose roller mechanism on the roof of the fire station. Another firefighter simulates smoke inhalation and is carried down a ladder and revived using an inhalator. A third leaps into a life net from the drill tower.
After the exhausting training session, the men relax briefly before an alarm blares over the station’s intercom: "Alarm! – Third & Main... Alarm! – Third & Main." The firefighters don their gear, slide down the poles, and the Pirsch rigs roar out of Station No. 1, heading west on Lake Street. The men probably wonder where Third & Main might be.
After several turns, Truck 21 heads south on Hinman Avenue, but somehow F-1 and the rest of the fleet end up at 2160 Isabella Street, near the Evanston/Wilmette border. Smoke billows from the house, and firefighters spring into action. Engine 21 and Engine 25 take the lead. One pumper connects to the hydrant at Isabella and Green Bay Road, while Truck 22 extends its mainline to the roof in the rear.
In short order, Fireman Tom and Captain Drake, equipped with SCBA, enter the house. They rescue little Judy’s kitten, extinguish the fire, and wrap things up. The companies pack up, and the crew returns to the station. The end.
The EFD often seized opportunities to train by using houses slated for demolition, and this appears to have been the case here. The site where the house stood would eventually become part of a grocery store parking lot.
In November 1954, Encyclopedia Britannica released another educational short titled "The Policeman." Filmed partly inside the Evanston police station and partly in Highland Park, it follows HPPD Officer Barnes and his partner in Car 91 as they patrol the streets of Highland Park. They recover an abandoned stolen bike, issue a traffic ticket, and locate a missing child. Officer Barnes is portrayed as an ordinary person, enjoying breakfast with his family before starting his shift and returning home afterward.
This update provides a glimpse into how the EFD adapted and trained during a transformative time in its history.
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