backdraft

The photos on this page are of the apparatus used in the filming of the 1991 movie
BACKDRAFT. I want to thank HANK SAJOVIC for the use of his photos and knowledge of
the CFD apparatus on the Backdraft set. I would also like to thank Bill Friedrich for the
use of his CFD photos used on this page. The photos are the property of Hank Sajovic &
Bill Friedrich and are not to be used in "any way" without their written permission.

Engine 17 - 1970 Ward LaFrance Pumper.

When the CFD loaned "Universal Studios" there Engine 18, it became a very
famous Chicago Fire Engine. Engine 17 started its service with the Chicago Fire
Department in July of 1970. It was a 1970 Ward LaFrance Pumper assigned to
Engine 8. In 1987 it was refurbed with a Ranger Cab & E-One body. It was later
assigned to Engine 18 before it was givin to Ron Howard's production group in
July of 1990. Ron Howard made Engine 18 into the famous Engine 17 and used
the pumper until February of 1991. This rig was also marked as Engine 51 during
the filming of the movie. After the movie, the rig was assingned to Engine 35 but
was givin to Engine 69 were it remained in service until 1995 when it was
disposed of. The above photo is of CFD Engine 34 that is now owned by a
private party and marked as Engine 17.

Engine 17, 67 & 24 - This is a good shot of the 3 CFD Engines used in filming.
Engine 67 was a 1978 American LaFrance Century Pumper that was marked in
the movie as Engine 67 & 25. This pumper was originally assigned to CFD
Engine 46 before the movie and Engine 80 after the movie. Engine 24 was also
a 1978 American LaFrance Century Pumper that was marked as Engine 24, 27
& 17 in the movie. Before the movie it was assigned to CFD Engine 34 and
after the movie it went to Engine 28.

Truck 46, 46 & 46 - This photo shows the three Ladder Trucks used as Truck 46
in the movie. The Mack is CFD Truck 5 which was a 1972 Mack CF with a 100'
Pirsh Ladder. When Ron Howard got hold of this Truck he customized it for the
movie adding updated headlites, siren, warning lites and some body work.
The Tiller was a 1976 International Harvester Tractor Drawn Ladder Truck with
a CFA Clintonville Fire Apparatus Trailer and 100' Seagrave Ladder. The
trailer was a former 1954 FWD. This Truck was assigned to Truck 54 when it
was in service with the CFD. The American LaFrance 100' Truck was used in
the movie as Truck 6 and before the movie was assigned to Truck 36 and after
the movie is was a Shop Spare.

Engine 106 is a 1970 Ward LaFrance that was very simular to what Engine 8
looked like before it was refurbed in 1987. Engine 34 is what the WLF looked
like after their Ranger Cab & E-One body refurb.

The Firehouses used in the filming of BACKDRAFT were as follows. Most of the
filming was at Engine 65 house which was Engine 17 & Truck 46 in the movie.
The parts that showed Robert DeNiro's office and Engine 51 were filmed at
Engine 8 house in China Town. The training drills were filmed at Engine 49
house. This photo is of Engine 65 & Truck 52.