Walk down Armitage Avenue on a Tuesday afternoon and you’ll hear it. That specific, chest-rattling roar of a diesel engine kicking into gear. It’s Chicago Fire Department Engine 22, pulling out of the bay at 605 West Armitage.
Most people just see a red truck.
To the folks in Lincoln Park, it’s basically the heartbeat of the neighborhood. Honestly, Engine 22 is one of those rigs that carries the weight of a century of Chicago history on its chrome bumpers. It isn’t just about putting out fires; it's about a specific legacy that stretches back to the days when horses pulled the pumps through muddy prairie streets.
The Lincoln Park Lifeline: What Engine 22 Actually Does
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, but it’s also a city of "first due" patches. For Engine 22, that patch is some of the most expensive and densely packed real estate in the Midwest. We’re talking about old-school brownstones, high-end retail, and the massive complex of the Lincoln Park Zoo and the surrounding parklands.
The logistics are a nightmare.
Narrow streets? Check. Constant construction? Always. Thousands of tourists who don’t know where they’re going? Every single weekend.
When a call drops for a high-rise fire or a basement smoke-out near the lake, Engine 22 is usually the first on the scene. Their job is the "wet work." While the trucks (like Truck 9, which shares the house) are focused on ventilation and search and rescue, the engine crew is all about the water. They find the hydrant, they stretch the lines, and they put the "wet stuff on the red stuff."
It sounds simple. It really isn't.
In a neighborhood like Lincoln Park, the hydrants can be quirky and the building layouts are often a labyrinth of 19th-century renovations. You’ve got to know which alleyways can actually support the weight of a modern pumper and which ones will trap you. The crew at 605 West Armitage knows these corners like the back of their hands. They have to.
💡 You might also like: Percentage of Women That Voted for Trump: What Really Happened
A History Forged in Cinders
To understand why this specific company has such a cult following among fire buffs, you have to look back. Way back.
Engine Company 22 was organized back in 1875. Think about that for a second. The city was still literally rebuilding from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The trauma of that event was still fresh. The city was obsessed with never letting that happen again, and Engine 22 was part of that new, aggressive defensive line.
They didn't start on Armitage. Their first home was on Webster Avenue. Back then, they were a "first-class" steamer company. No internal combustion. Just coal, water, and horses that knew the bells better than the firemen did.
The move to the current firehouse at 605 West Armitage happened in the late 1940s. That station is a classic piece of Chicago municipal architecture. It isn't a flashy, modern "super-station." It’s a working-class brick building that fits into the streetscape so perfectly you might miss it if the doors weren't open.
The Gear and the Grinds
Today, the rig is a modern piece of machinery, but the "22" on the door carries the ghosts of every apparatus that came before it.
The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) uses a mix of manufacturers, but you’ll often see Engine 22 running a Spartan or E-One pumper. These things are packed. They aren't just carrying 500 gallons of water; they’re rolling toolboxes. We’re talking about:
- Pre-connected crosslays for quick attacks.
- Large diameter hose (LDH) for those big-volume fires.
- Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipment, because a huge chunk of their calls are medical.
In Chicago, every engine is an ALS-capable unit or at least works in tandem with the ambulances. If you collapse on the sidewalk in Lincoln Park, Engine 22 will likely beat the ambulance there. The firefighters are often paramedics or EMTs, and they’ll have the AED out and the oxygen flowing before the sirens of the ambulance are even audible.
Life at 605 West Armitage
Living in a firehouse is... weird. It’s a 24-hour shift of extreme boredom punctuated by moments of pure adrenaline.
📖 Related: What Category Was Harvey? The Surprising Truth Behind the Number
The house at Armitage and Larrabee is legendary for its atmosphere. Because it’s a "double house"—meaning it holds both Engine 22 and Truck 9—there’s a lot of personnel. That means more personalities, more jokes, and a much higher grocery bill.
The "house fund" is a real thing. They cook their own meals. They scrub their own floors. They maintain the rig until the paint shines like a mirror.
There’s a specific pride in being a "22 man." It’s a busy house. You aren't sitting around watching TV all day. You’re hitting calls in the Gold Coast, responding to accidents on Lake Shore Drive, and dealing with the unique challenges of the DePaul University campus.
Why People Get the CFD Wrong
Social media loves to romanticize the job, but the reality for Engine 22 is often grittier.
People think it’s all heroic rescues. Honestly? A lot of it is "smell of smoke" calls that turn out to be a burnt steak in a $2 million condo. Or it's helping an elderly resident who fell out of bed.
But that's the point.
The reliability is what makes Engine 22 a pillar of the community. They are the 24/7 insurance policy for a neighborhood that never sleeps. When the "Big One" happens—like the tragic fires that occasionally sweep through old Chicago mid-rises—the training kicks in.
The CFD is known for its "aggressive interior attack" philosophy. They don't just stand outside and spray water. They go in. Engine 22 is built for that. They take the line into the heat, into the zero-visibility smoke, and they find the seat of the fire. It’s dangerous, it’s dirty, and it’s why the neighborhood respects them so much.
👉 See also: When Does Joe Biden's Term End: What Actually Happened
The Community Connection
You’ll see the crew out and about. Maybe they’re grabbing coffee or picking up supplies for dinner. They’re part of the fabric of Lincoln Park.
During the holidays, the station often gets decorated. During the summer, you’ll see the doors open and the guys (and gals) out on the apron, chatting with neighbors. It’s one of the few places left where the government feels accessible and human.
Navigating the Future of the CFD
The fire service is changing. Budget cuts, new technology, and changing building codes all affect how Engine 22 operates.
There’s a lot of talk about "smart" firefighting—using drones or thermal imaging to map fires before crews even enter. Engine 22 uses some of this, like handheld thermal cameras that can see through smoke to find hot spots or victims.
But at the end of the day, you can't "tech" your way out of a structure fire. You need a crew that knows how to handle a nozzle and a driver who can navigate a 30-foot truck through a narrow alley in a blizzard.
The reality is that Engine 22 will likely be at 605 West Armitage for another fifty years. The building might get a facelift, and the trucks will definitely be replaced as the miles pile up, but the mission doesn't change.
What You Can Do Next
If you live in the area or are just passing through, there are a few ways to show support or learn more about the reality of the Chicago Fire Department:
- Support the EFO: The Chicago Firefighters Union (Local 2) often runs charity events for the Widows and Orphans Fund. Look for their official gear or fundraisers; it's the best way to ensure your money actually helps fire families.
- Visit the Fire Museum: If the history of companies like Engine 22 fascinates you, the Chicago Fire Museum (located in the old Engine 98 house) is a goldmine of information about the department’s evolution.
- Practice Fire Safety: It sounds cheesy, but the best way to help the crew at Engine 22 is to make sure they never have to visit your house. Check your smoke detectors. If you live in an old Lincoln Park building, make sure your "second exit" (the fire escape) isn't blocked by a Weber grill or a pile of bikes.
- Keep the Apron Clear: If you’re driving or walking near Armitage and Larrabee, never block the front of the station. Those trucks need to move at a moment’s notice, and every second spent maneuvering around a double-parked delivery driver is a second lost on a life-safety call.