Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol

In 1833 when Chicago was incorporated as a town, it was protected from fire by a company called the "Washington Volunteers." During this year the first fire ordinance was passed making Fire Warden Benjamin Jones responsible for monthly inspection of all buildings to insure that no stovepipes passed through any roof, partition, or wall of a building unless guarded by tin or iron six inches from the wood. A fine of five dollars could be levied for any violation of the law, the fine to be repeated if the cause of complaint was not removed within 48 hours. The following year the town was divided into four wards, and in each a warden was appointed to make a monthly inspection to ensure compliance with the ordinance. In case of fire, the wardens had the power to call on citizens or bystanders to assist in putting out the blaze. The fire-bucket ordinance of 1835 required every occupant or owner of a store or dwelling "to have one good painted leather fire-bucket, with the initials of the owner's name painted thereon" for each fireplace or stove in the building, the bucket to be hung within easy reach. Thus the Fire Department and Bureau of Fire Prevention had their start. The engine house was on LaSalle Street where City Hall now stands, and covered an area of twelve by twenty-four feet which contained a cistern made of pine lumber large enough to hold two hogsheads of water. Two hand-engines were used by this early fire department. The first paid fire department was organized on August 2, 1858. Steam engines and a fire-alarm telegraph system were then purchased for the first time. The hose carts were at first drawn by men running at top speed, but the engines were drawn by horses.

The first fire-alarm boxes were installed in 1865. The most destructive fire that Chicago had yet experienced occurred October 19, 1857. Twenty-three lives were lost and property damage was extensive. As a result of this fire, the Citizens Fire Brigade of Chicago was formed on November 19, 1857. Consisting of businessmen and insurance companies, the duties of the brigade were to take valuable goods from burning buildings and prevent damage by water and thievery. The Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol, organized October 2, 1871, had its beginning in this Citizen's Fire Brigade. The great fire of 1871 (October 8) led to a reorganization of the 1890’s – 1900’s Era Patrolman , Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol,Chicago fire patrol,fire patrol

1890’s – 1900’s Era Patrolman , Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol,Chicago fire patrol,fire patrol

Fire Department on a military basis. The city was divided into 18 battalion districts, the companies in each comprising a battalion, under the charge of an Assistant Fire Marshal or Battalion Chief. The fire department stopped using horses for fire trucks February 5, 1923, with Fire Engine 11, at 10 East Austin Avenue. Fire alarm box 846 at State and Chicago Avenue was pulled at 12:40 p.m. and with the horses scrubbed and groomed, the old steamer rolled out of the swinging doors for the last time. While they were gone the new motor apparatus was backed into place, and the motorization of the Chicago Fire
Department was an accomplished fact. The drivers took a cheer from the crowd on the return to the firehouse and then the horses were taken to the House of Correction to be sold. An important date in the more recent

Patrol Chief Frank McAuliffe ,Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol,Chicago fire patrol,fire patrol

history of the Fire Department is January 1, 1958, when the Bureau of Fire Investigation was created. Prior to its inception, the sources of many of Chicago's fires went undetermined. Knowledge of the causes of fires has proved to be extremely valuable not only in the prevention of potential fire, but in aiding insurance companies in their investigations and increasing the protection of the citizens of Chicago. All of the personnel assigned to this unit have completed arson courses at various universities throughout the country and are thoroughly trained in their respective fields. Another recent milestone in Chicago Fire Department history was the construction of the Fire Academy, a $2.5 million Fire Department complex with the most modern training school in the country.
Built on the site of the famous O'Leary home where the great Chicago Fire of 1871 started, the Fire Academy was dedicated in May, 1961. Today the 4,314 firefighters and 619 paramedics of the Fire Department rank among the world's best.

A Chronological History of Chicago: 1673- Compiled by Chicago Municipal Reference Library, City of Chicago Updated by Municipal Reference Collection, Chicago Public Library Last Updated: 08/1997

This book is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather Captain Micheal Kinsch/ Chicagofireinsurance

The History of the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol is
dedicated to the memory of my grandfather
Captain Michael Kinsch.

Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol,Chicago fire patrol,fire patrol,history of the chicago fire insurance

Patrol 7 members front row L–R Earl Nootbaar, unknown member, Jim Banks, John McCue.
Top row L-R Warren Redick, Jim Hastings and Loren O’Rourke

Our deepest condolences to the families of Earl Nootbaar and Bill Schneidwind who passed on a few months ago.

Excerpts from the chapter:
“In Their Own Words …. The Men of the Patrol.”

Patrolman Don Kelso: “We had a fire at a mattress company and the building had chutes in there for the mattresses. We were below the fire placing covers, when all of a sudden some mattresses on fire started sailing down the chutes and chased us right out of the building. We didn’t expect this and the whole place ended up burning down".

Patrolman Earl Nootbaar(Passed away 2006): “I was 23 years old when I went on the Patrols and even now at age 80, I can still remember the Patrol slogan – “Mid summer rains and winter snows, thru portals these which never close, speed loyal hearts and willing arms, duty bound to fire alarms.”

Patrolman Pierce Buckley: “When I came on there was a handball court in Patrols 1 & 2’s house. For training they brought you in there and you simulated covering racks of clothing and racks against the wall. Racks against the wall had to be covered by getting something to weigh down the covers at the top because you couldn’t get behind them. We also simulated making chutes and how to properly cover an open roof to prevent further damage. They placed you with an experienced patrolman and you practiced throwing covers everyday and after while it became second nature to you.”

Patrolman Tom Flavhive: “I remember another call. It was 7 o’clock at night when we got a run and as we turned on to Madison Street, we noticed the fire was blowing halfway across the street. Just as we were coming to a halt in front of the building, a man came out of the top floor without a stitch of clothing and landed on the sidewalk right next to the rig. When he hit the sidewalk he just splattered all over. Needless to say, I had never seen anything like that before. While we were working inside the building, some Good Samaritan picked up this poor soul and placed him in our rig. We took the man out of our rig and boy there was a real mess in there. So when we got back to quarters, I as the candidate- the new kid on the block, it was my job to clean out the inside of the rig.”

Patrolman Warren Redick:“I was detailed to Patrol # 7 and while there we responded on a water flow alarm to a paint manufacturing plant on Fullerton Avenue, just west of Pulaski. Upon arrival we found fire in a paint drying room on the 2nd floor with extensive interior communication due to the overpowering of the sprinklers by flammable liquids and vapors – the end result being a 2-11 alarm and a large loss to both building and contents. An immediate fire department response would have certainty made a great difference, to say the least. The sprinklers did their initial job, but were overpowered as indicated.”

Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol,Chicago fire patrol,fire patrol,history of the chicago fire insurance
Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol
(Lieutenant's Badge)


Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol


Patrols 1 & 2 located at 100 S. Desplaines Street Photo Courtesy Ken Little Patrols 3 & 4 located at 5004 S. Union Avenue Photo Courtesy Ken Little Patrol 5 located at 1044 N. Orleans Street Photo Courtesy Ken Little Patrol 7 located at 3107 W. Fullerton Ave Photo Courtesy Ken Little Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol 1937 White in front of Patrols 1&2 (squeegee) The Chicago Fire Patrol was the only Patrol to design its own squeegee. Patrol Lieutenant Peebles is credited with its unique design. 1928 photo showing Patrol 5 in front of their quarters at 1044 N. Orleans Street. Chief Frank McAuliffe’s seven passenger Imperial Cadillac purchased on November 25, 1926 for $4000. Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol (Helmet Front) Chicago Fire Insurance (Lieutenant's Helmet) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program USFA Firefighter Fatalities Firefighter Casualties 1996-2005 SO YOU WANT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER??? Patrol Salvage Cover with early style markings	In 1833 when Chicago was incorporated as a town, it was protected from fire by a company called the "Washington Volunteers." During this year the first fire ordinance was passed making Fire Warden Benjamin Jones responsible for monthly inspection of all buildings to insure that no stovepipes passed through any roof, partition, or wall of a building unless guarded by tin or iron six inches from the wood. A fine of five dollars could be levied for any violation of the law, the fine to be repeated if the cause of complaint was not removed within 48 hours. The following year the town was divided into four wards, and in each a warden was appointed to make a monthly inspection to ensure compliance with the ordinance. In case of fire, the wardens had the power to call on citizens or bystanders to assist in putting out the blaze. The fire-bucket ordinance of 1835 required every occupant or owner of a store or dwelling "to have one good painted leather fire-bucket, with the initials of the owner's name painted thereon" for each fireplace or stove in the building, the bucket to be hung within easy reach. Thus the Fire Department and Bureau of Fire Prevention had their start. The engine house was on LaSalle Street where City Hall now stands, and covered an area of twelve by twenty-four feet which contained a cistern made of pine lumber large enough to hold two hogsheads of water. Two hand-engines were used by this early fire department. The first paid fire department was organized on August 2, 1858. Steam engines and a fire-alarm telegraph system were then purchased for the first time. The hose carts were at first drawn by men running at top speed, but the engines were drawn by horses. The first fire-alarm boxes were installed in 1865. The most destructive fire that Chicago had yet experienced occurred October 19, 1857. Twenty-three lives were lost and property damage was extensive. As a result of this fire, the Citizens Fire Brigade of Chicago was formed on November 19, 1857. Consisting of businessmen and insurance companies, the duties of the brigade were to take valuable goods from burning buildings and prevent damage by water and thievery. The Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol, organized October 2, 1871, had its beginning in this Citizen's Fire Brigade. The great fire of 1871 (October 8) led to a reorganization of the Fire Department on a military basis. The city was divided into 18 battalion districts, the companies in each comprising a battalion, under the charge of an Assistant Fire Marshal or Battalion Chief. The fire department stopped using horses for fire trucks February 5, 1923, with Fire Engine 11, at 10 East Austin Avenue. Fire alarm box 846 at State and Chicago Avenue was pulled at 12:40 p.m. and with the horses scrubbed and groomed, the old steamer rolled out of the swinging doors for the last time. While they were gone the new motor apparatus was backed into place, and the motorization of the Chicago Fire Department was an accomplished fact. The drivers took a cheer from the crowd on the return to the firehouse and then the horses were taken to the House of Correction to be sold. An important date in the more recent history of the Fire Department is January 1, 1958, when the Bureau of Fire Investigation was created. Prior to its inception, the sources of many of Chicago's fires went undetermined. Knowledge of the causes of fires has proved to be extremely valuable not only in the prevention of potential fire, but in aiding insurance companies in their investigations and increasing the protection of the citizens of Chicago. All of the personnel assigned to this unit have completed arson courses at various universities throughout the country and are thoroughly trained in their respective fields. Another recent milestone in Chicago Fire Department history was the construction of the Fire Academy, a $2.5 million Fire Department complex with the most modern training school in the country. Built on the site of the famous O'Leary home where the great Chicago Fire of 1871 started, the Fire Academy was dedicated in May, 1961. Today the 4,314 firefighters and 619 paramedics of the Fire Department rank among the world's best. A Chronological History of Chicago: 1673- Compiled by Chicago Municipal Reference Library, City of Chicago Updated by Municipal Reference Collection, Chicago Public Library Last Updated: 08/1997 The History of the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather Captain Michael Kinsch. Patrol 7 members front row L–R Earl Nootbaar, unknown member, Jim Banks, John McCue. Top row L-R Warren Redick, Jim Hastings and Loren O’Rourke Our deepest condolences to the families of Earl Nootbaar and Bill Schneidwind who passed on a few months ago. Excerpts from the chapter: “In Their Own Words …. The Men of the Patrol.” Patrolman Don Kelso: “We had a fire at a mattress company and the building had chutes in there for the mattresses. We were below the fire placing covers, when all of a sudden some mattresses on fire started sailing down the chutes and chased us right out of the building. We didn’t expect this and the whole place ended up burning down". Patrolman Earl Nootbaar(Passed away 2006): “I was 23 years old when I went on the Patrols and even now at age 80, I can still remember the Patrol slogan – “Mid summer rains and winter snows, thru portals these which never close, speed loyal hearts and willing arms, duty bound to fire alarms.” Patrolman Pierce Buckley: “When I came on there was a handball court in Patrols 1 & 2’s house. For training they brought you in there and you simulated covering racks of clothing and racks against the wall. Racks against the wall had to be covered by getting something to weigh down the covers at the top because you couldn’t get behind them. We also simulated making chutes and how to properly cover an open roof to prevent further damage. They placed you with an experienced patrolman and you practiced throwing covers everyday and after while it became second nature to you.” Patrolman Tom Flavhive: “I remember another call. It was 7 o’clock at night when we got a run and as we turned on to Madison Street, we noticed the fire was blowing halfway across the street. Just as we were coming to a halt in front of the building, a man came out of the top floor without a stitch of clothing and landed on the sidewalk right next to the rig. When he hit the sidewalk he just splattered all over. Needless to say, I had never seen anything like that before. While we were working inside the building, some Good Samaritan picked up this poor soul and placed him in our rig. We took the man out of our rig and boy there was a real mess in there. So when we got back to quarters, I as the candidate- the new kid on the block, it was my job to clean out the inside of the rig.” Patrolman Warren Redick:“I was detailed to Patrol # 7 and while there we responded on a water flow alarm to a paint manufacturing plant on Fullerton Avenue, just west of Pulaski. Upon arrival we found fire in a paint drying room on the 2nd floor with extensive interior communication due to the overpowering of the sprinklers by flammable liquids and vapors – the end result being a 2-11 alarm and a large loss to both building and contents. An immediate fire department response would have certainty made a great difference, to say the least. The sprinklers did their initial job, but were overpowered as indicated.” Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol (Lieutenant's Badge)