Organization of the Chicago Fire Department

The Chicago Fire Department in the second largest municipal fire department in the United States and one of the largest in North America.^[1] The Chicago Fire Department is organized in a paramilitary fashion, similar to that of most large municipal fire departments.

Rank structure

Exempt Rank Members

The Fire Commissioner (known as Chief of the Department in other cities) is appointed by the Mayor of the city of Chicago. All other exempt ranks are appointed by the Fire Commissioner.^[2][3]

• Fire Commissioner
• 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner
• Deputy Fire Commissioner
• Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner
• District Chief
• Deputy District Chief
• Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic

Fire Suppression & Rescue Division

• Battalion Chief
• Captain
• Lieutenant
• Engineer/Driver
• Firefighter/Paramedic
• Firefighter/ EMT
• Firefighter/EMT Candidate (Probationary Firefighter)

EMS Division

• Paramedic Field Chief
• Ambulance Commander
• Paramedic in Charge
• Fire Paramedic
• Fire Paramedic Candidate (Probationary Fire Paramedic)

Operations

The Bureau of Operations is one of five Bureaus within the organization of the Chicago Fire Department. Like the other four Bureaus, the Bureau of Operations is commanded by a Deputy Fire Commissioner, who reports to the 1st Deputy Commissioner, who in-turn reports to the Fire Commissioner.

The Bureau of Operations is currently the largest Bureau within the Chicago Fire Department and is organized into four Divisions:

• Fire Suppression and Rescue
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Special Operations (including the Technical Rescue Unit, the Hazardous Materials Unit, and the Air-Sea Rescue Unit)
• Office of Fire Investigation (OFI)

The Fire Suppression and Rescue Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner. The Special Operations Division and the EMS Division are also commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner. The Office of Fire Investigation (OFI) is under the command of the Commanding Fire Marshall, equivalent to the rank of Deputy District Chief. ^[3][4]

Fire Suppression and Rescue Division

The Fire Suppression and Rescue Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner (2-1-10). The Division consists of five Fire Districts, each commanded by a District Chief. Within the five Districts are 24 Battalions, each commanded by a Battalion Chief per shift, who reports to the Deputy District Chief of the District, who in-turn reports to the District Chief of the District.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner (2-1-11). The Division consists of two Field Divisions, the North Division and the South Division. Each Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic. The two Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedics report to the Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner of the Division. Within the two Field Divisions, there are eight EMS Districts. Each EMS District is under the command of a Paramedic Field Chief. Each EMS District's Paramedic Field Chief is in charge of all EMS and Ambulance Companies within that District.

Special Operations

The Special Operations Division is commanded by an Assistant Deputy Commissioner (2-1-9) and is divided into several subsections, including Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) and Air-Sea Rescue. The Haz-Mat. subdivision is commanded by a Deputy District Chief. The Air Sea Rescue subdivision is commanded by two Deputy District Chiefs, one in charge of Air Operations, and one in charge of SCUBA Operations. Within the Special Operations Division is the Special Operations Battalion. Similar to a Fire Battalion, the Special Operations Battalion is in charge of all the specialized units and companies within the Chicago Fire Department. The on-duty Special Operations Battalion Chief reports to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Division, as well as the Haz-Mat., SCUBA, and Air Operations Deputy District Chiefs.

Fire Suppression and Rescue Division

Apparatus Profile (2014)

CFD 1st Battalion Chief's SUV

CFD Tower Ladder Co. 10

Engine 126/ Truck 49/ Ambulance 50/ South Shore area of Chicago

Below is a complete listing of all fire companies and units operated by the Chicago Fire Department.^[5][6][7]

Frontline Fire Companies

• 97 Engine Companies (E1, E4, E5, E7, E9, E10, E11, E12, E13, E14, E15, E16, E18, E19, E22, E23, E26, E28, E29, E30, E32, E34, E35, E38, E39, E42, E43, E44, E45, E46, E47, E49, E50, E54, E55, E56, E57, E59, E60, E62, E63, E64, E65, E68, E69, E70, E71, E72, E73, E74, E75, E76, E77, E78, E79, E80, E82, E83, E84, E86, E88, E89, E91, E92, E93, E94, E95, E96, E97, E98, E99, E101, E102, E103, E104, E106, E107, E108, E109, E110, E112, E113, E114, E115, E116, E117, E119, E120, E121, E122, E123, E124, E125, E126, E127, E129)
• 50 Truck Companies (T2, T3, T4, T6, T7, T8, T9, T11, T12, T13, T15, T16, T17, T18, T19, T20, T22, T24, T25, T26, T27, T28, T29, T30, T31, T32, T33, T35, T36, T38, T40, T41, T42, T44, T45, T47, T48, T49, T50, T51, T52, T53, T55, T56, T57, T58, T59, T60, T61, T62)
• 10 Tower Ladders (TL5, TL10, TL14, TL21, TL23, TL34, TL37, TL39, TL54, TL63)
• 1 Aerial Tower (AT1)
• 4 Squads (SQ1, SQ2, SQ5, SQ7)
• 1 Fireboat (E2)
• 1 Reserve Fireboat (E58)

Command Units and Chiefs

• 25 Battalion Chief Units (Battalions 1-24 & the Special Operations Battalion Chief)
• 8 Paramedic Field Chief Units (1st EMS District, 2nd EMS District, 3rd EMS District, 4th EMS District, 5th EMS District, 6th EMS District, 7th EMS District, 8th EMS District)
• 14 Deputy District Chiefs (1st District, 2nd District, 3rd District, 4th District, 5th District, Hazardous Materials, Breathing Apparatus Service, SCUBA, Communications, Medical Section, Employee Relations, Public Education, Special Events, Air Operations, Commanding Fire Marshal)
• 8 District Chiefs (Office of the Fire Commissioner, 1st District, 2nd District, 3rd District / Airport Operations, 4th District, 5th District, Logistics, Training, Fire Prevention, Safety, Special Projects, EMS Logistics)
• 2 Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedics (EMS Field Division North & EMS Field Division South)
• 3 Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioners (Special Operations, Fire, EMS)
• 4 Deputy Fire Commissioners (Operations, Fire Prevention, Administrative Services, Logistics)
• 1 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner
• 1 Fire Commissioner

Special and Support Units

• 5 Command Vans
• 1 Major Incident Command Van
• 2 Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) Incident Team (H.I.T.) Units (5-1-1 & 5-1-2)
• 1 Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) Incident Team (H.I.T.) Support Unit (5-1-1A)
• 1 Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) Decontamination (Decon.) Unit (5-3-0)
• 1 Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) Mass Decontamination (Decon.) Unit
• 1 Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat.) Mobile Lab (5-1-11)
• 1 Collapse Rescue Unit (5-2-1)
• 1 Collapse Rescue Shoring Unit (5-2-2)
• 1 Technical Rescue Team (T.R.T.) Unit
• 1 Tunnel Rescue Unit
• 1 Vacuum Unit
• 1 Air Compressor Unit
• 3 Jump Bag/Trash Pump Units
• 1 Utility Unit
• 1 Support Unit
• 1 Box Truck
• 1 POD Truck
• 3 Fireground Rehabilitation (Rehab.) Units (5-7-1, 5-7-2, 5-7-3)
• 2 Hose Wagons (6-1-1, 6-1-2)
• 2 Dry Chemical (Chem.) Units (6-2-4, 6-2-5)
• 1 High-Expansion (Hi-Ex) Foam Unit (6-3-1)
• 1 Bulk Foam Carrier Unit (6-3-2)
• 1 Mobile Battery Vehicle (6-3-9)
• 3 Breathing Apparatus Service Bottle Trucks (Central, North, South)(6-4-4, 6-4-5, 6-4-6)
• 1 Gas Detection Service Unit
• 1 High-Rise Response Unit (6-4-16)
• 2 Airport Stairway Units
• 10 Airport ARFF Crash Rescue Trucks
• 1 Airport Mini-Pumper Unit
• 2 Deluge Units
• 1 Reserve Snorkel (6-6-1)
• 2 Helicopters (6-8-1, 6-8-2)
• 1 SCUBA Dive Team Unit (6-8-7)
• 1 Fast Rescue Boat (6-8-8)
• 2 Rescue Boats
• 6 Mass Casualty Units
• 2 Light Wagons
• 2 Smoke Ejector Units
• 2 Mobile Ventilation Units
• 1 Tactical Operations Intelligence Center (2-7-0)
• 2 Support Service Canteen Units
• 3 Salvation Army Canteen Units

EMS Units

Ambulance 50 at South Shore Hospital

• 75 Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulances
• 1 EMS Mass Casualty Triage Unit
• 1 EMS Mass Casualty Command Support Unit
• 1 EMS Oxygen Transport Bus
• 1 EMS Transport Bus
• 3 EMS Logistics Supply Trucks

Fire Station Locations and Apparatus

CFD Truck Co. 58

CFD Haz-Mat. Incident Team 5-1-1

The Chicago Fire Department is organized into 5 Districts, which command a total of 24 Battalions and a Special Operations Battalion.^{[6][8][9][10][11]}

(*) Denotes an Advanced Life Support (Paramedic-staffed) company. All CFD Engines and Ladder Trucks are Basic Life Support (EMT-staffed) units at a minimum.

1st District

The 1st District is commanded by a District Chief (2-1-21). The 1st District, just like the other four Districts have a Deputy District Chief, who reports to the District Chief of the District. The 1st District consists of Battalions 1-6.

• 1st District - 1360 S. Blue Island Ave. (Quarters of Engine 18 & Ambulance 65)
  • 1st Battalion - 259 N. Columbus Dr. (Quarters of Engine 13, Truck 6, Ambulance 74)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E1, E13, E42, E98)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T3 & T6)
    • 1 Aerial Tower Company (AT1)
    • 1 Squad Company (SQ1 & SQ1A)
    • 4 Ambulance Companies (A11, A41, A42, A74)
    • 1 Fireboat (E2)
    • 1 Deputy District Chief of SCUBA Operations (6-8-6)
    • 1 Command Van (2-7-1)
    • 1 SCUBA Team Unit (6-8-7)
    • 1 Fast Boat (6-8-8)
    • 1 Paramedic Field Chief (4-5-1)
  • 2nd Battalion - 212 W. Cermak Rd. (Quarters of Engine 8, Truck 4, Ambulance 66)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E8, E16, E19, E29)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T4 & T11)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A4, A35, A66)
    • 1 Deputy District Chief of Hazardous Materials (5-1-0)
    • 1 Hazardous Materials Incident Team Unit (5-1-1)
    • 1 Hazardous Materials Incident Team Support Unit (5-1-1A)
    • 1 Hazardous Materials Mobile Lab (5-1-11)
    • 1 Dry Chemical Unit (6-2-5)
    • 1 Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic of the South Field Division (4-4-12)
  • 3rd Battalion - 1129 W. Chicago Ave. (Quarters of Engine 14, Truck 19, Ambulance 53)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E4, E14, E22, E30)
    • 1 Truck Company (T19)
    • 1 Tower Ladder Company (TL10)
    • 2 Ambulance Companies (A43 & A53)
    • 1 Deputy District Chief of Breathing Apparatus (6-4-0)
    • 1 Collapse Rescue Lumber Unit (5-2-2)
    • 1 Decontamination Unit (5-3-0)
    • 1 Jump Bag / Trash Pump Unit (5-6-1)
    • 1 Dry Chemical Unit (6-2-4)
    • 3 Breathing Apparatus Bottle Trucks (6-4-4, 6-4-5, 6-4-6)
  • Battalion 4 - 1915 S. Damen Ave. (Quarters of Engine 23, Tower Ladder 5)
    • 5 Engine Companies (E5, E18, E23, E26, E103)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T2 & T7)
    • 1 Tower Ladder Company (TL5)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A28, A45, A65)
    • 1 Deputy District Chief of the 1st District's Unit (2-2-1)
    • 1 Special Operations Battalion Chief's Unit (5-1-5)
    • 1 Collapse Rescue Unit (5-2-1)
    • 1 Hose Wagon (6-1-2)
    • 1 High-Expansion Foam Unit (6-3-1)
    • 1 High-Rise Unit (6-4-16)
    • 1 Mass Casualty Unit (8-8-14)
    • 1 Paramedic Field Chief (4-5-7)
  • Battalion 12 - 1244 N. Western Ave. (Quarters of Engine 57, Ambulance 44)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E35, E43, E44, E57)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T28 & T36)
    • 4 Ambulance Companies (A3, A44, A62, A64)
    • 1 Reserve Snorkel Unit (6-6-1)
    • 1 Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic of the North Field Division's Unit (4-4-11)
  • Battalion 13 - 4001 W. West End Ave. (Quarters of Engine 95, Truck 26, Ambulance 10)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E95, E96, E113, E117)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T26 & T29)
    • 1 Tower Ladder Company (TL14)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A10, A15, A23)
    • 1 Paramedic Field Chief (4-5-4)
  • Battalion 14 - 2343 S. Kedzie Ave. (Quarters of Engine 109, Truck 32, Ambulance 34)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E38, E99, E107, E109)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T32 & T48)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A33, A34, A67)
    • 1 24-Hour Supervising Fire Marshall's Unit (4-6-6)
    • 3 24-Hour Fire Marshall's Units (4-6-7, 4-6-8, 4-6-9)
    • 1 EMS Treatment/Oxygen Bus (8-8-11)
    • 1 Smoke Ejector Unit (9-2-1)

1st District

2nd District

Quarters of Engine 7, Truck 58, Ambulance 7 at 4911 W. Belmont Ave.

• 2nd District - 4625 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Quarters of Engine 108, Tower Ladder 23, Ambulance 47)
  • Battalion 5 - 2714 N. Halsted St. (Quarters of Engine 55, Truck 44)
  • Battalion 7 - 2827 N. Pulaski Rd. (Quarters of Engine 91, Squad 2)
  • Battalion 8 - 2323 N. Natchez Ave. (Quarters of Engine 125, Truck 53)
  • Battalion 9 - 6030 N. Clark St. (Quarters of Engine 59, Engine 70, Truck 47, Ambulance 13)
  • Battalion 10 - 4426 N. Kedzie Ave. (Quarters of Engine 124, Truck 38, Ambulance 32)
  • Battalion 11 - 6030 N. Avondale Ave. (Quarters of Engine 119, Truck 55, Ambulance 39)

South Fire Division

The 5th and 6th Districts are commanded by the Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner of the South Fire Division (2-1-12).

• 5th District - 21 W. 59th St.
  • Battalion 15 - 1618 W. 33rd Pl.
  • Battalion 16 - 5200 W. 63rd St.
  • Battalion 17 - 1150 E. 55th St.
  • Battalion 18 - 7101 S. Parnell Ave.
  • Battalion 19 - 2215 W. 51st St.
  • Battalion 20 - 8028 S. Kedzie Ave.

5th District

6th District

• 6th District - 10458 S. Hoxie Ave. (Quarters of Engine 81, Ambulance 71)
  • Battalion 21 - 1700 W. 95th St. (Quarters of Engine 121, Truck 40)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E73, E92, E120, E121)
    • 3 Truck Companies (T40, T45, T24)
    • 2 Ambulance Companies (A17, A29, A72)
    • 1 Mass Casualty Unit (8-8-13)
    • 1 Paramedic Field Chief (4-5-6)
  • Battalion 22 - 34 E. 114th St. (Quarters of Engine 62, Truck 27)
    • 5 Engine Companies (E62, E75, E80, E93, E115)
    • 2 Truck Companies (T27 & T62)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A5, A51, A60)
    • 1 Support Service Canteen Unit (4-0-2)
  • Battalion 23 - 7974 S. South Chicago Ave. (Quarters of Engine 72, Tower Ladder 34, Ambulance 22)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E46, E72, E82, E126)
    • 3 Truck Companies (T17, T42, T49)
    • 1 Tower Ladder Company (TL34)
    • 4 Ambulance Companies (A9, A22, A37, A50)
  • Battalion 24 - 11659 S. Ave. O (Quarters of Engine 104, Truck 61, Ambulance 25)
    • 4 Engine Companies (E74, E81, E97, E104)
    • 1 Truck Company (T61)
    • 2 Ambulance Companies (A25 & A71)
    • 1 Hose Wagon (6-1-1)
    • 1 Deluge Unit (6-7-6)
    • 1 Rescue Boat (6-8-10)

3rd District / Airport Operations Division

The 3rd District is commanded by a District Chief (2-1-23). The District Chief in charge of the 3rd District is also in charge of the Airport Operations Division. The 3rd District, just like the other four Districts have a Deputy District Chief, who reports to the District Chief of the District.

• 3rd District - O'Hare Airport Rescue Station # 3 (Quarters of Engine 9, Ambulance 59, Squad 7)
  • 13th Battalion - O'Hare Airport Rescue Station # 4
    • 3 Engine Companies (E9, E10, E12)
    • 4 Spare Engines ( E9r, E9s, E10r, E10s)
    • 1 Tower Ladder Company (TL63)
    • 2 Spare Tower Ladders (TL63r, TL63s)
    • 3 Ambulance Companies (A16, A26, A59)
    • 1 Squad Company (SQ7 & SQ7A)
    • 1 Deputy District Chief (2-2-3)
    • 1 Command Van (2-7-3)
    • 1 Hazardous Materials Incident Team Unit (5-1-2)
    • 1 mass decontamination unit (5-3-1)
    • 1 Rehabilitation Unit (5-7-3)
    • 1 Portable Stairway Unit (6-3-5)
    • 8 ARFF Crash Rescue Units (6-5-3, 6-5-4, 6-5-5, 6-5-6, 6-5-7, 6-5-8, 6-5-9, 6-5-10)
    • 4 Reserve ARFF Crash Rescue Units (6-5-11, 6-5-12, 6-5-13, 6-5-14)
    • 1 Mass Casualty Unit (8-8-1)
    • 1 Mass Casualty/EMS Support Unit (8-8-1A)
    • 1 Mobile Ventilation Unit (9-2-4)

Other Facilities

The headquarters of the Chicago Fire Department is located at 3510 S. Michigan Ave.

The CFD's Special Operations Division is located at 3918 S. Honore St.

The CFD's Dispatch Center, the locales of the Main Fire Alarm Office (Main F.A.O.) and the Englewood Fire Alarm Office (Englewood F.A.O.) is located at 1411 W. Madison St.

The CFD's Air Sea Rescue Heliport is located at 3954 E. Foreman Dr.

The Quinn Fire Academy of the Chicago Fire Department is located at 558 W. De Koven St.

The CFD's City Warehouse is located at 1201 S. Campbell St.

The CFD's Support & Logistics Division is located at 31st St. & Sacramento Ave.

The CFD's EMS Support & Logistics Division is located at 412 N. Kedzie Ave.

See also

• Chicago Fire Department
• New York City Fire Department
• Organization of the New York City Fire Department
• Los Angeles Fire Department

References

External links

• CFD Organizational Chart
• CFD Fire Company Locations Chart
• CFD Radio Signatures Chart
• CFD Locations and Maps
• CFD Official Website

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