Hey everyone,
I’ve been going through some old photo collections recently, and I stumbled upon these great images of various Emergency Management Agencies (EMA) and Emergency Services District Ambulance (ESDA) support vehicles from the 1990s. These photos really bring back memories of how resourceful communities were in those days when it came to repurposing old fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
Most of these vehicles were either custom-built by volunteers using retired fire apparatus or donated by fire departments that no longer needed them. It’s amazing to see how many of these rigs continued to serve their communities for decades after their original purpose. Some might even still be in action today!
These photos were all taken with classic 35mm film cameras—none of that fancy digital stuff! It’s always interesting to hear from people who might have more details about any of these vehicles or can fill in gaps where information is missing. If you recognize any of these rigs or have stories to share, drop me a line!
Here’s a rundown of what you’ll see:
- **P1:** A Bellwood ESDA vehicle from the 1960s (?) that’s likely a repurposed Mack light/power squad. Exact details are unclear, but it was probably once part of the Bellwood Fire Department.
- **P2:** Naperville EMA Truck 357, which features a converted late 70’s Chevy ambulance chassis into a lighting and power unit. Also included is Truck 352, a late 60’s GMC Step Van rescue unit originally from the Naperville Fire Department and Civil Defense.
- **P3:** Naperville EMA Truck 351, a late 80’s or early 90’s Dodge Ram Van that used to belong to the city’s public works department.
- **P4:** Another view of Naperville EMA Truck 357, showcasing its impressive lighting and power capabilities.
- **P5:** Wood Dale ESDA Squad 3, which seems to be a repurposed WFD rescue squad vehicle. Unfortunately, specifics are lacking.
- **P6:** The Buffalo Grove ESDA IC&C Unit, possibly originating from a former BGFD ambulance.
- **P7:** A DuPage County EMA IC&C Unit with no further details available.
- **P8 & P9:** Two views of the DuPage County EMA Power and Lighting Unit, showing both the side and rear.
- **P10:** Rolling Meadows ESDA Rescue Squad, likely derived from an old RMFD rescue squad vehicle.
- **P11:** McHenry County ESDA ESDA-52, another IC&C Unit, though details remain elusive.
- **P12:** Kane County OEM Light/Power Unit, again with missing specifics.
Let me know if anything sparks your memory or if you’d like to add anything. These photos remind us of the creativity and dedication that went into maintaining essential services back then.
Take care,
Brian Murphy
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