Chicago Fire Department

The Chicago Fire Department, also known as the CFD, is the principal fire suppression, prevention, and rescue agency of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second largest fire department in the United States after the New York City Fire Department, as measured by sworn personnel (firefighters). It is also one of the oldest major organized fire departments in the nation. Concurrently, some firefighters serve as paramedics with the Chicago Emergency Medical System. The Chicago Fire Department cooperated with film director Ron Howard on making the 1991 film Backdraft, starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin and Robert De Niro. That film was inspired by firefighter turned writer Gregory Widen, who made a cameo appearance in the film.

The Chicago Fire Department is led by the Fire Commissioner, who is currently Jose A. Santiago. The Fire Commissioner is appointed by the mayor. The Fire Commissioner is assisted by the First Deputy Commissioner, who is currently Charles Stewart III, who oversees the department's bureaus. There are five bureaus under the First Deputy Commissioner: Administrative Services, Fire Prevention, Operations, Support Services, and Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Services.

Until December 2006 Chicago firefighters donned the famous three-quarter boots and jacket, instead of the now generally accepted bunker gear worn by many departments, especially those of the suburbs. An example of the boots and jacket can be seen in the photo below.

A unique feature on the apparatus of the CFD is the green emergency light that is typically found on the right front of the apparatus, in addition to the red light on the left front. This tradition dates back to the 1930s when Fire Commissioner Goodrich, whose family operated Goodrich Transit Company, adopted the port and starboard maritime light scheme for all apparatus and firehouses.

Another tradition associated with the CFD is the black over red color scheme of the fire apparatus. The choice of this paint design is attributed to an order of Ford Model A cars purchased in the late twenties, to be used as Battalion Chief "Buggies". The factory rain canopies on the cars came coated in tar, which would not allow paint to stick. CFD personnel liked the black over red look and adopted it for all of their apparatus.