CHicago fireboat history
EnGINE 41 | Fred A. Busse
Originally designed as a City of Chicago Fireboat, the Fred A. Busse was built in Bay City, Michigan in 1936. The boat was named for the 39th Mayor of Chicago, who served as Mayor from 1907 until 1911. It was placed into service with the Chicago Fire Department May 4, 1937, and at the time it was built was the largest diesel powered Fireboat, in the world. It was built specifically for Chicago to fit underneath the cities bridges, minimizing response times for emergencies and to help ease congestion in a booming city.
With 4 water pumps onboard, the boat was rated for a combined 10,000 gallons per minute and could spray water up to 27 stories high. The boat served valiantly and responded to countless emergencies, before finally retiring from the Fire Department in 1981.
Fred A. Busse fighting a fire at 320 N LaSalle, January 12, 1951.
Fred A. Busse fighting a fire along with her sister ship the Joseph Medill.
The pilot house, imagine the history seen out of these windows!
VESSEL SPECIFICATIONS
Date built: 1936
In Service: 1937 to 1981
Gross Tons: 99
Length: 90 feet
Beam: 22 feet, 4 inches
Approximate Draft: 5 feet, 5 inches
Capacity: 127 passengers
Hull: Steel
Propulsion: Twin Screw, Detroit Diesel 8V71 Engines