Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 2)

In 1990, X-Engine 8 (D-374) and its sister rig X-Engine 106 (D-375) were part of the second batch of vehicles sent for refurbishment. They were the final two rigs to return in June 1990. Both D-374 and D-375 were leased to the production team behind the movie *Backdraft*. D-374 was labeled as Engine 17 from July 1990 to February 1991 and as Engine 51 from October 1990 to February 1991 (the rig whose hose bed appeared "in action" inside Engine 8's house). During filming, most of the interior shots and many of the exterior scenes were filmed using X-Engine 8. X-Engine 106 was also marked as Engine 17 during some scenes. One way to distinguish them is that Engine 8's interior featured diamond plate and was painted glossy black, whereas Engine 106 had a flat black interior without diamond plate. Another difference is that X-Engine 106's siren speaker was mounted higher up, just in front of the windshield glass.

The cab interior.

Once filming concluded, D-374 was assigned to Engine 69 at 4017 N. Tripp Ave. Engine 69 played a crucial role during the Great Flood of 1992, pumping water out of City Hall’s basement. It was part of Chicago’s short-lived super-pumper program, equipped with four hard suction lines and 1000 feet of 5-inch LDH. Its 140-gallon foam tank was designed for expressway responses. Engine 69 was decommissioned on June 13, 1995. To keep Engine 34 operational after theirs gears blew out, Engine 69’s transmission/PTO box was removed. On August 28, 1996, Engine 69 was sold at auction and purchased by Erickson Trucks-n-Parts. Initially sent to their yard in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, it eventually ended up in their Jackson, Minnesota scrapyard in 1997. The current owner found it there in 1999 and bought it in 2003, beginning its restoration journey.

Backdraft Engine 17 on the day it was purchased.

Following filming, X-Engine 106 (D-375) was assigned to Engine 113. Like Engine 69, it too ended up at auction and made its way to the Jackson, Minnesota scrapyard. Engine 113 is now in the possession of a friend of Engine 69's current owner, but it's in such poor condition that it may end up being used as a parts rig for the Engine 17 project. Engine 14 (X-E113) also wound up in Jackson, Minnesota. It was completely stripped of any salvageable parts, had its cab cut off, and was eventually 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, Pennsylvania Fire Department, where it had mistakenly been advertised as authentic until recently. This rig was spotted online stripped of its markings a few years ago, and its current location remains unknown.

Rear jump seat behind the officer.