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Evanston Fire Department history Part 45
From Phil Stenholm:
Another chapter in the history of the Evanston Fire Department.
That’s really good!
During the World War II years, Evanston didn't experience any major fires, so the volunteer auxiliary fire service that was set up in June 1942—Auxiliary Truck Company 3 at Fire Station #3 and Auxiliary Engine Company 7 at Station #4—was never called upon. By 1944, the EAFS was disbanded when Engine Company 7's 1917 Seagrave 300-GPM chemical and hose booster-pumper (formerly Engine 3) broke down during a training session and couldn't be fixed.
Meanwhile, the older firefighters in the department felt the strain of the manpower shortage caused by younger members being drafted into the military almost immediately after being hired. Many long-term members were becoming demoralized or unwell, having to work overtime for straight-time compensatory days they couldn't use due to wartime restrictions. In June 1944, 29-year veteran Captain Anthony Steigelman passed away at 57 after a long illness. Captain Henry Tesnow retired after 30 years, Lieutenant Ed Newton retired after 34 years, and Master Fire Equipment Mechanic J.K. “Karl†Wilen retired after 21 years. Firefighters Lawrence Ahrens (24 years), Frank Altenberg (28 years), Jerry Moriarty (25 years), Herman Peters (21 years), and Herman Windelborn (24 years) also retired that year.
Lieutenant Jim Geishecker, who would later become chief, was promoted to captain and took over as company officer of Engine Company 1 from Captain Steigelman. Lieutenant Frank Sherry became captain and replaced Captain Tesnow at Engine Company 2. Firefighters William Murphy, William Rohrer, and Edward C. Fahrbach were promoted to lieutenant. It’s worth noting there was an Edward C. Fahrbach and an older Edward G. Fahrbach in the department during the 1920s and '30s.
Lieutenant William Elliott, a 21-year veteran of Truck Company 1, died at 43 while off-duty in January 1945. Chief’s buggy driver Ed Hanrahan was then promoted to lieutenant. Lieutenant John Reddick retired after 22 years in 1946, and Jim Mersch was promoted to lieutenant. With Lieutenant Schmidt stationed in Berlin, chief’s buggy driver and future EFD chief Lester Breitzman was promoted to lieutenant and took over as assistant company officer of Engine Company 1 and administrative assistant to Chief Hofstetter in 1947.
Between 1945 and 1947, firefighters Herman Godeman (21 years), John M. Mersch (40 years), Michael Olk (22 years), John Balmes (34 years), Harry Nelson (disability pension after 18 years), Lou Morgan (20 years), Charles Lapp (20 years), Harold Anderson (20 years), George Wilson (20 years), William Brundage (23 years), George Paugels (25 years), and Fred Godeman (27 years) also retired, creating a critical shortage of experienced personnel to cover shifts.
Even though the war years were relatively calm in terms of large fires, the EFD faced a significant blaze at the iconic Rood Building on Fountain Square in downtown Evanston on February 15, 1946, just months after the war ended. Built in 1895, this magnificent four-story building with its cupolas, gables, and turrets was largely empty and awaiting demolition when the fire broke out. Despite the low value of its contents and lack of occupants needing rescue, a high-value district response (three engines and a truck), followed by a second alarm (one engine and one truck), and a call-back of the off-duty platoon were necessary to extinguish the flames and protect nearby buildings to the north.
The structure still carried $46,000 in fire insurance, which made the timing of the fire somewhat curious. As the building was mostly empty, the firefighting efforts quickly shifted to a defensive strategy. At the peak of the fire, all four engines at the scene were drawing water from nearby hydrants, while both Truck Companies 1 and 2 operated elevated master streams from their aerial ladders, dousing the former roof and attic of the Rood Building with tens of thousands of gallons of water.
Following the usual protocol for extra-alarm fires in the downtown high-value district, Engine Company 4 transferred to Station #1 to maintain citywide engine coverage until the off-duty platoon arrived. Members of the off-duty platoons from Engine Companies 2 and 3 manned reserve equipment at Stations #2 and #3 respectively. The off-duty platoon from Station #1 walked to the fire to provide relief for the firefighters already on the scene, which was just a block north of Station #1.
During the war, with most resources going toward military production, police cars and fire chief’s vehicles were scarce between 1942 and 1945. However, once the war ended, automakers resumed production. In 1946, the EFD purchased two new Ford automobiles to replace the aging 1936-37 models. Chief Hofstetter received a Ford Deluxe Fordor sedan, and a Ford Deluxe Tudor sedan was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau.
This period saw significant changes within the EFD, both in leadership and operations, marking a transition as the department adapted to post-war realities.