From Phil Stenholm:
Another chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department.
THAT’S VERY ROOD!
During World War II, Evanston experienced very few fires, which meant that the volunteer Evanston Auxiliary Fire Service (EAFS), established in June 1942 with Auxiliary Truck Co. 3 at Fire Station #3 and Auxiliary Engine Co. 7 at Station #4, never had to respond to a real emergency. The EAFS was officially disbanded in 1944 after a 1917 Seagrave 300-GPM chemical and hose booster-pumper (formerly Engine 3) broke down during a training drill and couldn’t be repaired. This marked the end of an important but underutilized effort during the war.
The war also placed immense pressure on the Evanston Fire Department. Many younger firefighters were drafted into military service shortly after being hired, while potential recruits who had been waiting for civil service positions ended up enlisting or being called up before they could even join. This led to a severe manpower shortage, forcing many long-time members to work excessive overtime—often without the ability to take time off, as the department struggled to keep its staffing levels up.
In 1944, several veteran firefighters retired due to both personal reasons and the stress of the era. Captain Anthony Steigelman, a 29-year veteran, passed away in June at the age of 57. Captains Henry Tesnow (30 years) and Ed Newton (34 years) also retired, along with master mechanic J.K. “Karl†Wilen (21 years). Other longtime members like Lawrence Ahrens, Frank Altenberg, Jerry Moriarty, Herman Peters, and Herman Windelborn also stepped down from active duty.
Amid these changes, promotions took place. Lt. Jim Geishecker, who would later become chief of the EFD, was promoted to captain and took over Engine Co. 1. Lt. Frank Sherry replaced Capt. Tesnow at Engine Co. 2, and William Murphy, William Rohrer, and Edward C. Fahrbach were all promoted to lieutenant. It’s worth noting that the EFD had two different Edward Fahrbachs during this period—one named C. and another G.—who served in the 1920s and 1930s.
The following year, in 1945, Lt. William Elliott, an assistant company officer for Truck Co. 1, died at 43 while off-duty. Ed Hanrahan, the chief’s buggy driver, was promoted to lieutenant. In 1946, Lt. John Reddick retired after 22 years, and Jim Mersch was promoted. In 1947, Lester Breitzman, a future EFD chief, was promoted to lieutenant and took over as assistant company officer of Engine Co. 1 and administrative assistant to Chief Hofstetter, replacing Lt. Schmidt who was stationed in Berlin.
Throughout the war years (1945–1947), several more long-serving firefighters retired, including Herman Godeman, John M. Mersch (a 40-year veteran), Michael Olk, John Balmes, Harry Nelson, Lou Morgan, Charles Lapp, Harold Anderson, George Wilson, William Brundage, George Paugels, and Fred Godeman. These retirements left the EFD struggling to maintain adequate staffing, especially with so many experienced personnel leaving.
Despite the relative quiet in terms of major fires, the EFD faced one significant challenge in February 1946: a fire at the iconic Rood Building at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston. Built in 1895, the four-story structure with cupolas, gables, and turrets was largely unoccupied and set for demolition when the fire broke out. The response was massive—three engines and a truck were dispatched initially, followed by a second alarm and a call-back of the off-duty platoon to help control the blaze and protect nearby buildings.
The building still carried $46,000 in fire insurance, making the timing of the fire somewhat unusual. With no occupants inside and little to salvage, the department quickly shifted to a defensive strategy. At the height of the fire, all four EFD engines were pumping water from nearby hydrants, while both Truck Co. 1 and Truck Co. 2 used their aerial ladders to pour thousands of gallons of water onto the roof and attic.
As was standard for large-scale fires in Evanston’s high-value district, Engine Co. 4 moved to Station #1 to ensure city-wide coverage. The off-duty platoons from Engine Co. 2 and 3 provided backup at Stations #2 and #3, respectively, while the off-duty crews from Station #1 walked just a block north to relieve those working at the scene.
Finally, with the war ending, the automotive industry began producing new models. From 1942 to 1945, police cars and fire chief vehicles were scarce, but by 1946, the EFD was able to replace its aging fleet. Two new Ford sedans were purchased: a Deluxe Fordor for Chief Hofstetter and a Deluxe Tudor for the Fire Prevention Bureau, replacing the 1936-37 Fords.
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