Victor L. Schlaeger (ship, 1949)

Chicago fire boat Victor L. Schlaeger

The Victor L. Schlaeger was a powerful fireboat operated by the Chicago Fire Department from 1949 to 2010.^[1] While the city of Chicago had once operated nine powered fireboats, in the early 20th Century, towards the end of her working life the Schlaeger was Chicago's sole large fireboat. She was supplemented by smaller, faster, but less capable boats.^[2] In 1986 she was retired from active to standby status, at a considerable savings in personnel, as she had been staffed 24 hours per day by a crew of eight.

She was replaced by the Christopher Wheatley in 2010.^[3]

See also

• Fireboats of Chicago

References

1. ↑ "The Schlaeger". Chicago Fire Department. 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-12-13. 
2. ↑ Andrew Siegel (1986-09-08). "Aging Fleet Of Fireboats Put Out To Pasture". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-12-14. 
3. ↑ Sharon Hill (2011-04-21). "New Chicago fireboat honors fallen firefighter: The fireboat is called the Christopher Wheatley for the 31-year-old Chicago firefighter who died Aug. 9 in the line of duty". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. "It's been 60 years since Chicago has [had] a new fireboat, and we're excited about its arrival," said Larry Langford, a fire department spokesman.