Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 2)

In 1990, X-Engine 8 (D-374) and its sister rig, X-Engine 106 (D-375), were among the second batch of units sent for refurbishment. They were the last two to return in June 1990. Both were leased to the production company behind the film *Backdraft*. D-374 was temporarily marked as Engine 17 from July 1990 to February 1991, and later as Engine 51 from October 1990 to February 1991. Notably, the hose bed from this unit was used inside the house of Engine 8 during filming. During the movie’s production, most of the exterior shots and interior scenes of Engine 17 were filmed using X-Engine 8. X-Engine 106 also appeared as Engine 17 in some scenes. One way to tell them apart is that Engine 8 had a diamond plate interior painted gloss black, while X-Engine 106 had a flat black interior without diamond plate. Additionally, X-Engine 106 had its siren speaker mounted higher up near the windshield.

The cab interior.

After filming wrapped, D-374 was assigned to Engine 69 at 4017 N. Tripp Ave. This unit played a key role during the Great Flood of 1992, helping pump out the basement of City Hall. It was part of Chicago’s short-lived super-pumper program, which included four hard suction lines and 1,000 feet of 5-inch LDH. The 140-gallon foam tank was designed with expressway responses in mind. Engine 69 was taken out of service on June 13, 1995. Its transmission and PTO box were removed to keep Engine 34 operational after it suffered gear failure. On August 28, 1996, Engine 69 was sold at auction and purchased by Erickson Trucks-n-Parts. It was first shipped to their yard in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and eventually ended up in their bone yard in Jackson, Minnesota, in 1997. It was discovered there by its current owner in 1999. He bought it in 2003 and began restoring it.

Backdraft Engine 17 on the day it was purchased.

Following the filming of *Backdraft*, X-Engine 106 (D-375) was assigned to Engine 113. It too was later sold at auction to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts and made its way to the Jackson, MN bone yard, where it joined Engine 69. Engine 113 is currently in the possession of a friend of Engine 69's owner, but it's in very poor condition and may end up being used as a parts rig for the Engine 17 restoration project. Another rig, Engine 14 (X-E113), also ended up in Jackson, MN. It was completely stripped of usable parts, its cab was cut off, and then it was shredded.

December 20, 2003.

Engine 34 (X-Engine 49), which never appeared in *Backdraft*, was converted into an Engine 17 replica before being sold in 1999 or 2000 to the East Norwegian Township Fire Department in Pennsylvania. For a time, it was incorrectly promoted as authentic. A few years ago, it was spotted online for sale, stripped of all markings, and its current location is now unknown.

Rear jump seat behind the officer.