Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:
Before computers and GPS, there was Kenneth F. Little.
Mr. Little, 84, who passed away on Friday in Glenview, was a senior fire-alarm operator with the Chicago Fire Department. Known for his incredible knowledge of the city’s streets, alleys, and shortcuts, he played a vital role in getting emergency vehicles to fires faster than anyone else. His deep understanding of the city made him an invaluable asset during his 36-year career.
James Joyce, former Chicago Fire Commissioner, praised Mr. Little, saying, “He had a second sense for knowing which fire companies were closest. He was amazing—just one of a kind.â€
Throughout his career, he not only saved lives but also contributed to the preservation of fire department history. He co-authored six books on the subject and helped establish the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, where a library is named in his honor.
In 1957, after a devastating fire engulfed the Chicago City Council chambers, Mr. Little received a commendation for remaining at his post, working alongside other dispatchers in the old Fire Alarm Office above the scene.
One of his most notable moments came when he helped save Schulien’s, a famous German restaurant on West Irving Park Road. His son, Philip Little, president of the fire museum, recalls that Mr. Little heard a radio report about a Snorkel squad returning to their station after a call. Moments later, a new fire alert came in at Schulien’s.
“He thought for a second—if they’re going back to quarters, they must be heading down Western Avenue,†Philip said. He quickly redirected the nearest unit instead of the usual ones, and they arrived just in time to put out the fire in under 30 seconds.
From a young age, Ken Little was fascinated by the fire department. Growing up in Old Town, he would often hang around a local firehouse, listening to radio calls. As he grew older, he explored the city by bus, streetcar, and train, visiting every firehouse and even walking along Western Avenue—the longest street in Chicago—to learn its shortcuts and one-way streets.
He also studied the layout of factories to warn firefighters about potential hazards like toxic chemicals in basements. On quiet nights, he and his colleagues would quiz each other on the names of every bar and grocery store along Western Avenue, a skill that made him a regular guest on late-night radio shows hosted by Eddie Schwartz.
When Ken joined the Chicago Fire Alarm Office in 1957, fire companies were still dispatched from City Hall and another office at 63rd and Wentworth. Many calls came from the red, free-standing fire-alarm boxes scattered across the city—remnants of a time when people didn’t have phones.
Mr. Little had personal connections to some of the most significant events in Chicago’s fire history. He knew veterans who were on duty during the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire, which killed over 600 people, and the 1910 Chicago Stockyards fire, which claimed 22 firefighter lives—the deadliest such incident until 9/11. He also knew the fire-alarm operator who, in 1929, helped police investigate the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on Clark Street. According to his son, he even knew that slide-down fire poles were invented in Chicago.
During the Blizzard of ’67, he stayed at the office for 36 hours, unable to leave and with no one able to enter. His dedication never wavered.
Beyond his work, Mr. Little taught history at Wright College and enjoyed the jazz of Errol Garner. He collected coins and Tootsietoys, and a Tootsietoy firetruck will be placed in his casket as a final tribute.
He and his wife, Alice, who passed away in 1986, had 10 children, including triplets. In addition to his son Philip, he is survived by daughters Anna, Rita, and Mary Ellen, sons Kenneth, Robert, Stephen, Richard, and Raymond, and four grandchildren. His son Thomas passed away before him.
A funeral Mass is planned for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Michael’s Church, the church he attended growing up at 1633 N. Cleveland Ave.
Thanks, Dan.
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