Peter Pirsch with his smoke ejector invention

Creator

Pirsch Company

Date

• ca. 1931

Summary

• Peter Pirsch in front of his invention, the smoke ejector truck. On April 14, 1931, Pirsch raced the prototype for his smoke ejector to Chicago in just 88 minutes after firefighters had become trapped in the Laflin Street tunnel. His efforts saved the lives of all but one of the firefighters. Circa 1931.
• Starting in 1857, Nicholas Pirsch began producing fire engines and ladders. By 1970, the Pirsch Company became the largest United States manufacturer that focused exclusively on the production of fire equipment. Feeling competitive pressure from foreign companies, Pirsch stopped operations in 1986 and declared bankruptcy in 1987.