Chicago Fire: Tragic History of the Fire Academy You Didn’t Know About
The Chicago Fire Academy from Dick Wolf’s TV show is fully functional in real life, too, and its building’s history is quite poetic… Or ironic — that’s for you to decide.
Summary:
- In Chicago Fire, the Chicago Fire Academy building often portrays itself.
- Back in 1871, the devastating Great Chicago Fire started from the spot where the Fire Academy now stands.
- Not far from the Academy building, there are a handful of other iconic Chicago Fire filming locations.
Located at the heart of the Windy City at 558 West De Koven Street, the Chicago Fire Academy plays itself in Dick Wolf’s rescue show. Being an important actor, however, doesn’t prevent this building from performing its direct duty — housing hundreds of students eager to join the heroes’ ranks. But that’s relatively known.
The history of the Chicago Fire Academy building, however, is not.
Poetic Justice of the Chicago Fire Academy
Today, 558 West De Koven Street has much more life in it than 153 years: back then, there was only an unfortunate cow living there, as far as we’re aware. But that wasn’t just your typical cow, as for over a century, it was considered the notorious culprit behind the Windy City’s biggest tragedy, its memory tarnished by the accusations.
Why, you may be wondering?
In 1871, it was from 558 West De Koven Street that the Great Chicago Fire started. The massive three-day-long fire took over 300 lives, destroyed over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 people homeless. And for over a century, it was that poor cow that was blamed for starting this terrible devastating fire!
Today, this address houses the Chicago Fire Academy which stands precisely at the place where the Great Fire began. It’s poetic in a way, or maybe, ironic — but either way, 558 West De Koven Street has a deep meaning for the Windy City’s firefighters.
In Chicago Fire, There Are Two Academies
The Fire Academy scenes in Dick Wolf’s rescue series are often shot at 558 West De Koven Street, allowing this important building with tragic history to portray itself. However, the real-life Chicago Fire Academy is sometimes substituted by the much more filming-friendly University of Illinois at 1200 West Harrison Street not far away.
There are quite a few iconic Chicago Fire filming locations in the close proximity from these two academy buildings, too, including Firehouses 51 and 105, Engine 66 & Truck 67, and, of course, everyone’s favorite bar — Molly’s.
If you’d like to follow in the show’s characters’ steps, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for Chicago Fire filming locations for your next visit to the Windy City.