Chicago Civil Defense Homepage

************** READ THIS ***************

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Only the page link buttons will show on left

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New version of website is under construction

that will correct this problem, but won't be

available until next year sometime!

1. HOMEPAGE

1244 N. Wells St. (Old Town)

1653 W. 43rd St.

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A HISTORIC WEBSITE FOR CURRENT EVENTS
AND PAST HISTORY OF THE FORMER VOLUNTEER

CHICAGO CIVIL DEFENSE - FIRE & RESCUE AND

CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT - E.P.D.S.

(EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & DISASTER SERVICES) UNIT,

ALONG WITH THE FIREFIGHTER'S OF THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT

Featuring classic documents and memorabilia.
Classic C.F.D. fire & disaster videos, classic
C.F.D. fire & disaster audio files, along with
classic & recent fire, disaster & apparatus photo's
and video's. Official Federal, State & Local
Government Agency links, for just about anything in
the fire, disaster and Emergency Preparedness field.

LIVE 24 / 7 streaming audio feeds of the Chicago Fire 911/ O.E.M.C.
Center, (Main, Englewood Offices & Citywide Fire, w/ CTA Fire

and E.M.S. Services in Digital UHF & UHF).

Also with local news media of recent fires,
disasters and C.F.D.stories in the news. Special
website links to well known major fires & disasters
that occurred within the city of Chicago. Links
to other fire related and disaster service originations
and their websites. Included are links to purchase
your own Chicago Fire Department memorabilia on
EBay plus much more!

1905 - 1979

The History of the Chicago Civil Defense

Chicago Fire Department - E.P.D.S. Unit

January 1, 1958 - July 23, 1989

In 1957, then Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert J. Quinn had an idea. He knew of six heavy duty rescue trucks that the Federal Government had supplied the city, to use as they saw fit. The rescue vehicles were all brand new, fully equipped but just sitting idle in City of Chicago garages, collecting dust and waiting for the big one. After meeting with Charles (Jimmy) Johnson, a long time friend of Quinn's and an avid fire fan, Quinn decided to approach Mayor Richard J. Daley with a plan for these Rescue Squads.

It would involve an all-volunteer unit to facilitate and operate this equipment with proper training and personnel to provide ancillary support at fires and other disasters. Johnson would be the civilian Chief of the unit. A handful of volunteers were gathered together between October of 1957 and January of 1958. The Chicago Civil Defense, Fire and Rescue Unit was then born.

The first day the unit was in service, members responded to a major extra-alarm fire at 54 E. Hubbard St. It was immediately known from that point on, that the organization could play a vital role in the non-hazardous duties at fire scenes and other disasters within the city and the outlying suburbs.

.CLICK anywhere on above item to link to and view the complete story

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LIVE

Chicago Fire Department radio

Main F.A.O./North, Englewood F.A.O./South,

& Citywide Fire in Digital P25 UHF

CLICK on link or icon to

listen to Chicago Fire-Digital

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CLICK on above image to link to Artistic Engraving's website now!

CLICK on link below to go to

Artistic Engraving's website now

for all your custom engraving on

various products and materials.

www.artistic-eng.com

It is with deep regrets that we announce

the passing of another good friend and brother,

Dennis Goralski

(10/03/1955 - 02/23/2021)

Owner of Denny G's Auto & Truck Repair

Des PLaines, IL.

Denny passed away suddenly

February 23, 2021

Denny joined the unit in 1975 and was a loyal and

dedicated member of Wells St. Company Quarters.

He then moved onto the C.F.D. Shops as a machinist

and we all know the great job he did for every Fire

Company in the City of Chicago as (7-4-4) the

Shops Emergency Road Machinist!

Dennis was a VERY CLOSE FRIEND of the

Owner/Administrator of this website and he will

deeply missed BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!!

THANKS BUDDY FOR ALL THE CRAZY AND FUN

TIMES WE HAD TOGETHER, THEY WILL NEVER

BE FORGOTTEN BUT SURE WILL BE MISSED!

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To leave your own message on Denny's obituary page

CLICK on the link below,

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chicago-il/dennis-goralski-10072601

At Denny's request, there was no

wake or funeral services!

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ATTN. CUSTOMERS OF DENNY G'S

TRUCK & AUTO REPAIR IN
DES PLAINES, IL.

It is our pleasure to announce OFFICIALLY,

that Denny G's Truck & Auto Repair, will remain

OPEN under the management of Sue Goralski,

Sue (Office Manager), Ken & Steve (Mechanic's).

Stop by, say hello and offer your condolences

on the loss of our great friend Dennis and

help support Denny's business and great services

that you will contuine to receive!!

3/04/2021

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7/29/2020

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Pierce Truck

Manufacturing

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************** CLASSIC C.F.D. VIDEOS *******************

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ONLY AFTER 9 YEARS OF SERVICE

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************ Recently Uploaded Videos ************

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What this short video

Watch this short video from the

4-11 Alarm at 4425 W. 16th St.

on December 10, 2020

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Fire Stations

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CLICK on above image to enlarge

BULLETIN

Sydney (Synbad) Smith

is NOT and NEVER was a sworn Firefighter with
the Chicago Fire Department. He was NOT a
Firefighter on a westside Company, nor was he a
Firefighter on Truck Co. 10.

He was ONLY a volunteer member of the former
Chicago Fire Dept. E.P.D.S. Unit (Civil Defense)
back on the mid 1980's

CLICK on above image to enlarge

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CLICK on image to link with Midwest Photo's on SmugMug

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CLICK on image to link with KSC711 on SmugMug

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CLICK on above image to link with Twitter/CFD-Media

CLICK on either icon to left and
go directly to the C.F.D. Media
page on Twitter, with all of the
latest C.F.D. information with
photos of fires, accidents, etc.

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CLICK on above image to view & purchase your copy

Classic C.F.D. Images of
The 1950's and 1960's

By Steve & Warren Redick

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

Suburban Chicago Fire Rigs At Work
By Steve Redick

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

Chicago Fire Rigs At Work

Volume II

By Steve Redick

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

CLICK on above image to view & purchase your copy

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CLICK on above image to view & purchase your copy

Chicago Fire Rigs At Work

Volume IIl

By Steve Redick

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

NOW AVAILABLE FOR
DOWNLOAD TO YOUR
I-PHONE, I-PAD OR I-TOUCH

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

CLICK on the link below to go to the
I-Tunes website to view

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id483396144

CLICK on above image to go directly to ITunes.com

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CLICK on above image to link w/ IllinoisFireTrucks.com

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CLICK on above image to link with cfdphoto.smugmug.com

CLICK on above image to link w/ cfdphoto.smugmug.com

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CLICK on above image to enlarge

BULLETIN

Thomas J. Palma

is NOT and NEVER was a sworn Firefighter
with the Chicago Fire Department.

He was ONLY a volunteer member of the former
Chicago Fire Dept. E.P.D.S. Unit (Civil Defense)

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