Evanston Fire Department history – Part 8

On December 5, 1897, a dramatic and dangerous incident unfolded when a lamp exploded in the engine room of the steamer *Morley*, a 1,000-ton vessel that was 193 feet long and had a crew of 12. The ship was stationed half a mile offshore from Evanston on Lake Michigan. A local resident at 305 Davis Street spotted the fire and immediately reported it to the Evanston Fire Department (EFD). Chief Sam Harrison quickly mobilized the department, calling for “City of Evanston No. 1” and all available hoses in town.

Once the steamer and hose carts arrived, Chief Harrison, with remarkable courage, boarded a surf boat operated by the Northwestern University Life Saving Crew and ventured out to the burning ship, dragging nearly a half-mile (2,500 feet) of hose behind him. Upon reaching the *Morley*, he was warned by the crew that the boilers could explode at any moment. Despite the danger, Harrison bravely attacked the fire and managed to extinguish the flames in one of the coal bunkers. As he prepared to tackle the second bunker, a sudden surge of fire forced him to abandon the ship. The fire continued to burn for another eight hours, drawing a large crowd to the beaches of Evanston. Fortunately, both Chief Harrison and all twelve crew members of the *Morley* escaped without injury.

Just over a year later, on August 22, 1899, another significant event took place when a fire heavily damaged the home of Judge Harvey B. Hurd, a prominent and influential figure in Evanston. He had previously served as the first president of the Evanston Town Board in 1864. The fire also destroyed several nearby buildings at Davis and Ridge. Judge Hurd was highly critical of the EFD’s response, pointing out two major failures: the steam fire engine was not dispatched to the initial alarm, and the Waterworks engineer failed to increase water pressure in the mains when needed.

In response, the Evanston City Council launched an investigation. While they found that existing procedures were followed, they concluded that the policies needed to be updated. As a result, the steam fire engine would now respond to every fire alarm, and water pressure would be increased in the city's main lines whenever a fire was reported—even before confirmation. This policy, however, led to some challenges in 1912, when parts of the city’s water mains collapsed due to the high pressure. Eventually, direct-pressure (plug-pressure) was only used in exceptional circumstances.

The Hurd fire also prompted the city council to recognize the need for more firefighters and a third fire station. In 1900, they allocated $10,000 to build a new fire station in North Evanston, located within a quarter mile of the C&NW RR Central Street depot. With the completion of Fire Station #3, each of the three C&NW RR depots was within a quarter mile of a fire station. On January 31, 1901, the new station received a horse-drawn hose wagon, two horses, and three full-time, paid firefighters. A third firefighter was also assigned to the hose company at Station #2 in South Evanston. Additionally, the chief was given a horse-drawn buggy and a driver who also acted as his secretary.

This expansion brought the total number of firefighters in the EFD to 19—12 at Station #1, 3 at Station #2, 3 at Station #3, and the chief, who was either at his office or home. By 1901, the department had 14 horses in service, with 10 at Station #1, 2 at Station #2, and 2 at Station #3. Station #1 was equipped with the Ahrens Metropolitan 2nd size steamer, a two-axle four-wheeled hose wagon, the old Babcock chemical engine, the Davenport H&L (the only ladder truck in town), and the chief’s buggy. All five vehicles were fitted with a two-horse hitch. Stations #2 and #3 each had a similar two-axle hose wagon with the same setup. These three hose wagons formed the backbone of the EFD from 1901 to 1907, each carrying 1,250 feet of high-quality 2½-inch hose, various nozzles, fire extinguishers, and hand tools. Direct-pressure was still commonly used during this time.

To read all the installments of this history, click HERE

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