As I was browsing through the updates on fire departments across Lake County, I noticed that more departments are being added to the site regularly. Recently, the Gurnee Fire Department joined the list. Known for its strategic coverage over 33 square miles, including popular spots like the Six Flags Great America amusement park and the massive Gurnee Mills outlet mall, Gurnee has established itself as a crucial responder in the area. Their fleet, composed entirely of E-ONE apparatus, reflects their commitment to quality. Currently, all four of their ambulances are Type I models, sourced from Road Rescue, mounted on IHC 4700 or IHC 4300 chassis. Interestingly, a new Type I ambulance is currently on order from Wheeled Coach.
One of the unique aspects of the Gurnee Fire Department is the presence of specialized MABAS assets stored within their jurisdiction. They maintain a 1991 Mack/Volvo roll-off chassis that serves as a mobile transport for metal storage containers. These containers house essential equipment and supplies for MABAS Divisions 4 and 5. One container supports the Technical Rescue Team (TRT), equipped with tools and lumber, while the other caters to the Wildland Task Force, carrying items such as an ATV.
I couldn’t help but notice the variety of chassis and cab styles present in the Gurnee Fire Department’s E-ONE apparatus. For instance, there’s an E-ONE Cyclone II engine featuring the latest version of the Cyclone II with a tilt-cab design. On the other hand, there’s another engine from 1995 that uses an earlier version of the Cyclone chassis with a fixed cab. Additionally, two engines feature a Cyclone tilt-cab with a previous grille design. The tower ladder, built on a Hurricane chassis, has a fixed cab.
An interesting photograph from 1998 captures Gurnee’s new E-ONE Hurricane 95’ tower ladder, posed alongside one of the town’s major attractions at that time—Gurnee Mills, which was then marketed as the largest outlet mall in the country. Planet Hollywood was one of the mall’s anchor restaurants. Another notable vehicle is the Gurnee Squad 1352, which came equipped with a four-door Sentry cab and a vista roof. The Sentry cab is easily identified by the straight, non-contoured door line of the driver's door. The vista roof, a raised roof option without full-height rear doors, was a distinctive feature at the time. This photo was taken inside Six Flags Great America during the squad's delivery. However, the current graphics on the squad no longer match this original look.
Overall, the Gurnee Fire Department continues to evolve with modern technology while preserving elements of its history. It’s fascinating to see how their fleet reflects both innovation and tradition.