Another installment in our ongoing series on the History of the Evanston Fire Department.

NBFU ’59
In 1959, the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU) conducted its first inspection of the Evanston Fire Department since 1935. The department received a rating of “Class 3,” the same grade it had earned back in 1935. Among fire departments in the Chicago area, only the Chicago Fire Department held a higher rating—“Class 2.” At that time, Evanston and Oak Park were the only suburban departments rated “Class 3” by the NBFU.

By 1971, however, changes had occurred. Skokie’s fire department was upgraded to “Class 2,” while Winnetka moved up to “Class 3.” These shifts reflected evolving standards and improvements in emergency response across the region.

The NBFU’s 1959 report included several recommendations for the EFD, such as adding an additional engine company at Station #1, restoring staffing levels to five firefighters per shift at Station #1 and four at the other stations, requiring annual physicals for all firefighters over 55, setting a mandatory retirement age of 62, and making the chief fire marshal a civil service position rather than a political appointment.

Of these, only the requirement for annual physicals for older firefighters was fully implemented. In 1963, Squad 21 was reactivated as a front-line unit at Station #1. Although the 1952 Pirsch engine had a 1,000-GPM pump and a 100-gallon tank, it lacked a hosebed and therefore wasn’t officially classified as an engine company.

Also in 1959, the iconic Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph boxes, which had been in use since 1895, were replaced by 80 Western Electric emergency telephones. These new devices connected directly to the city’s police and fire communication center, allowing callers to specify the nature of the emergency for faster and more accurate response.

Each telephone was housed in a bright red box with reflective lettering. Once installed, EFD units no longer needed to check the alarm boxes unless a voice call was made. If a phone was lifted without a voice, a nearby officer would investigate what was called a “cold box.” The EFD would only respond if a fire or medical emergency was reported.

In 1959, Captains Jim Wheeler and Willard Thiel were promoted to assistant chief, while Dan Lorden and Ed Pettinger became captains. Assistant Chief Jim Mersch retired after 23 years, and Captain Joe Schumer resigned. New firefighters hired during 1958–1959 included Edward “Ted” Riley, LeRoy “Charlie” Rohrer, Leonard Conrad, and Ken Hatfield. Conrad would later become the first medical officer of the EFD in 1978.

Inhalators were assigned to all five engine companies in 1959, meaning Squad 21 was no longer the city’s primary inhalator unit. It now responded only to special rescues or when requested by a chief. The EFD averaged about 100 inhalator calls annually in the 1950s, but this number increased significantly over the years, reaching one per day by 1965 and two or three per day by 1976, when paramedic services were introduced.

Both F-1 and F-2, the EFD’s station wagons, were equipped with stretchers and first-aid kits in 1959, serving as backup ambulances. They were only used if police ambulances weren’t available. F-1 was replaced in 1962, and F-2 in 1963.

A local funeral home offered a Cadillac ambulance (once a hearse) to the EFD in 1959, but the city declined. The police provided ambulance service, backed by EFD station wagons, and the city had no budget to add another vehicle or reduce staffing. The ambulance was eventually donated to Skokie.

In 1959, George and Effie Dye died in a house fire on Hartrey Avenue. Despite quick response times, they couldn’t be saved. This was the first multiple-fire death in Evanston since 1905. Their home was near the edge of the city, but still within NBFU response standards.

Later that year, a fire at the Davis Furniture store on Main Street caused $155,000 in damage. Three engine companies, two truck companies, and several officers responded quickly. Engine 25 and Truck 23 were reassigned, and reserve crews were mobilized from off-duty personnel.

In early 1960, Fire Prevention Bureau Captain George Croll passed away after a long illness. Fireman Art Windelborn retired in 1961 after 33 years of service. William Lapworth was promoted to captain, and Bob Schwarz, Richard Beucus, and William Lemieux joined the department. Bob Schwarz would later be part of the EFD’s arson investigation unit, established in 1975.

In May 1961, a mysterious explosion damaged the North Shore Overall store on Dempster Street, causing $107,000 in damage. No injuries occurred, as the store was closed. The EFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau lacked the expertise to investigate, so the Illinois State Fire Marshal was brought in.

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