Visiting Chicago

[Captain203]

I'm going to Chicago next week for a few days for a short vacation and some baseball games. I was wondering if there were any Chicago FD firefighters browsing the forums that would advise me as to whether it would be possible to stop by a station, trade patches, tell some tall tales, and get a feel for how they do things. If anyone has any advice, please post a reply or email me.
Thanks.

[FHandz15]

I was in Chicago for a Cubs game 3 weeks ago, stayed at a hotel on Ontario downtown. Was walking by E-98 on Sunday morning, drinking coffee with my friend and the two guys sitting outside the firehouse struck up a conversation with us when we said hello. Friendly FF's, neat house, interesting location. Worth a visit, in my opinion.

[ADSNWFLD]

While not from the city itself, I have found most companies are more then willing to strike up a conversation. Try http://www.5-11club.org/ for some Chicago info.

Hope you have a great trip

[SWFD94]

Cap,
I hope I can catch you to let you know that...you MUST stop by E-13/Sq-1 @ 259 W. Columbus. Went by there about two years ago and the hospitality was amazing! Actually, just about any station in the city is great to stop at. They are some of the most hospitable firefighters I have ever met. I know the backdraft firehouse and the chinatown station are good ones to stop at (you will have to excuse me, I don't have the addresses of those). If you want to email, I can forward you a list of stations and addresses as well as who is housed where as of 01/02

[SHVFD_Asst_Chief]

Volunteers visiting Career houses

Just wondering how all you career firefighters feel about volunteers visiting your stations?

I would like to visit stations when I am in certain areas (like Chicago), but not sure about doing it. I know that there are some career firefighters who do not like volunteers. It is there opinion and I am not going to try to change it.

However, if visiting how should I (or any volunteer) from a small area with low call volume approach?

Thanks for your insight.

[Captain203]

Guys,
I returned from Chicago yesterday and wanted to post a few things here. Chicago is a great city and I had a wonderful time. I visited three CFD stations and was warmly welcomed at all of them by everyone. I would especially like to thank the guys at E42/A42/T3 for their willingness to show me around their rigs and trade stories and patches. I would also like to thank the guys at E13/SQ1 for the tour and overview of the Squad rigs and the hat and t-shirt. I really enjoyed learning a few things and talking about how CFD does things and how my department does things.

If anyone gets a chance to visit Chicago and wants to see some stations, you can't go wrong at the stations mentioned above. All of the guys were very willing to take some time and seemed to have no problem with me simply walking in and introducing myself.

Thanks for all of the advice.