From Phil Stenholm:
Another installment in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.
The civil service rank of lieutenant was abolished from the EFD in 1954, as it was reclassified as “Captain II,†while the previous title of captain became “Captain I.†Captain II held a slightly higher salary than the former lieutenant position, and to be promoted to Captain II, a lieutenant had to serve at least one year in that role. After one year, a Captain II would automatically be promoted to Captain I.
Five of the seven EFD lieutenants—Leonard Bach, Herb Claussen, George “Bud†Hofstetter, George Jasper, and Willard Thiel—were immediately promoted to Captain II. However, because they were appointed as lieutenants on January 1, 1954, and had less than a year of experience, Lt. Harry Schaeffer Jr. and Lt. Richard Schumacher had to wait until January 1, 1955, for their promotions. This made them the last EFD lieutenants, with all future promotions moving directly from fireman I to Captain II.
The Evanston Fire Department faced two major “storefront†fires during 1953–1954.
The first occurred at the Suburban Surgical Supply Company store located at 604 Davis Street on March 2, 1953. Due to its location in the downtown high-value district, the initial response included three engine companies and one truck company. A second alarm added a fourth engine, a second truck, and Squad 21. The fire was contained within the original structure, but the store was completely gutted, resulting in an estimated $100,000 in damages. This fire ranked among the top five most costly fires in Evanston’s history up to that point, tying with the Tapecoat fire (1951) and the Evanston Country Club fire (1922).
The second significant fire took place in September 1954 at the A & P supermarket on 2106 Central Street in North Evanston. Engine Co. 23 arrived first and found a light haze of smoke inside. When the second engine and truck company joined, they followed into the store. While searching for the source of the smoke, the ceiling partially collapsed.
Everyone escaped safely, but Capt. Ron Ford, Capt. Herb Claussen, and firefighters Arnold Windle, Dave Tesnow, and Ted Bierchen were injured and taken to local hospitals. A second alarm was called, along with a call-back of the off-duty platoon to replace the injured personnel. Although the fire wasn’t particularly dramatic, the A & P suffered around $70,000 in damage from fire, smoke, and water, and the incident served as a sobering reminder of the risks firefighters faced daily.
In October 1954, the Evanston Fire Department appeared in an educational short film titled “The Fireman,†produced by Encyclopedia Britannica under the guidance of Dr. Ernest Horn from the University of Iowa. Though not an Academy Award winner, the film was shown in schools across the country. It bore some resemblance to the 1903 silent film “The Life of an American Fireman,†featuring real Evanston firefighters and the new Pirsch rigs in action.
Synopsis (Spoiler Alert!):
A rookie firefighter named “Tom Briggs†(likely Tom Kostopoulos) arrives at Station #1 and participates in morning inspection with his colleagues. Chief Jim Dorband (actually EFD Chief Henry Dorband) is satisfied and dismisses the crew. Tom is assigned as tillerman on one of the aerial-ladder trucks by duty officer “Captain Drake†(likely Engine 25 Captain Ed Fahrbach).
During training, Tom and others demonstrate the use of the hose roller, simulate rescuing a smoke-affected person, and jump into a life net from a drill tower. After training, the men relax briefly before an alarm sounds: “Alarm! – Third & Main.†They rush to respond, and the Pirsch rigs roll out of Station #1 heading west on Lake Street, unsure of where exactly “Third & Main†was.
After several turns, Truck 21 heads south on Hinman Avenue, and eventually, F-1 (Chief Dorband) and the Pirsch parade arrive at 2160 Isabella Street, on the Evanston-Wilmette border. Smoke is visible from the house, and the crews quickly get to work. Engines 21 and 25 hook up to hydrants, and Truck 22 extends its ladder to the roof.
Fireman Tom and Captain Drake, wearing SCBA, enter the house, rescue a kitten, and put out the fire. The companies then return to the station. The film ends with a clear message about the importance of preparedness and teamwork.
This film was likely shot at a house soon to be demolished, which later became part of a grocery store parking lot. The EFD often used such locations for drills, ensuring their skills remained sharp.
Encyclopedia Britannica released another educational film in November 1954 called “The Policeman.†Filmed partly at the Evanston Police Department and in Highland Park, the film showcased Officer Barnes and his partner as they recovered a stolen bicycle, issued a traffic ticket, and found a missing child. Officer Barnes was portrayed as a regular family man, adding a human touch to the portrayal of law enforcement.
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