Chicago, IL

Sirens in Chicago test the first Tuesday of each month at 10AM for 30 seconds of the Alert signal.

For severe weather, Modulators and DSAs sound the Wail signal and 2001s sound the Attack signal.

Formerly, Chicago's Modulators and DSAs sounded the Alternate Wail signal and 2001s sounded the Fast Wail signal. This lasted from 8/4/2008 to 6/15/2015

FS DSA-6x3 MC - DuSable Lake Shore Drive and N Sheridan Rd. Photos taken 5/22/23, copyright Christopher Aylward.

Federal Signal DSA6 & DSA3x2 (MC) - 41.93446, -87.63415. Photos taken 9/21/26 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal Modulator 6024 (MC) - 41.96876, -87.65003. Photos taken 9/14/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal Modulator 6024 - 41.91823, -87.63611. 9/21/25 Controller Pic 3/14/26 (Removed in March 2026 due to damage caused by wind storm). Photos taken by Nestor Chavez.

Above photos submitted by Malachi Smith

Below photos taken 8/13/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal Modulator 6024 (UV) - Madison Street and Wacker Drive. Currently the only UV in Chicago.

Above photos taken by Nik VanWagner

Below photos taken 8/13/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal Modulator 6024 (MC) - Located at Hutchinson Fields.

FS MOD 6024 MC Dual Tone - Located on the roof of the Jardine Water Purification Plant in the north half of the grassy patch on the roof. Photos taken 6/17/23, copyright Christopher Aylward.

FS MOD 6024 MC - Wrigley Field (41.94909, -87.655127 to be specific). Photos taken 9/14/25 by Nestor Chavez.

FS MOD 3012 MC - E Jackson Dr between S Michigan Ave & S Columbus Dr in The Loop. MC. Low quality photos taken July 2019, HQ photos taken 6/17/23. Copyright Christopher Aylward.

Federal Signal Modulator 3012 (MC) - 41.79254, -87.74046. Very low mounted. Photos taken 11/23/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.98163, -87.75771. Photos taken 9/1/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.98855, -87.73389. Photos taken 9/1/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.88048, -87.64378. Photos taken 8/13/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.87466, -87.63353. Photos taken 8/13/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.96318, -87.691951. Photos taken 7/18/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-DC (SRN) - Joyce Kilmer Elementary School. Taken on 1/19/25. Submitted by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN - 41.916193, -87.684410. Photos taken 3/24/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN (DC) - N Western Ave & W Estes Ave. Photos taken 7/21/24. Submitted by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-SRN (DC) - Mather High School. Photos taken 8/9/24. Submitted by Nestor Chavez.

FS 2001-SRNDC - On Wabash at Harrison in The Loop. The head of the siren is about 15 feet from the side of the building. Photos taken 6/17/23, copyright Christopher Aylward.

FS 2001-SRNDC - Located at Columbus and Monroe in The Loop. Photos taken 6/17/23, copyright Christopher Aylward.

FS 2001-SRN - 5345 N Cumberland Ave. About 1000 ft south is a Norwood Park Twp 4004. Taken 5/24/21, copyright Christopher Aylward.

FS 2001-SRN - N Melvina Ave & W Leland Ave. Photos taken 5/22/22, copyright Christopher Aylward.

Federal Signal 2001-SRNB - 41.92884, -87.67343. Only SRNB in Chicago. Photos taken 8/8/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Signal 2001-130 - 41.959811, -87.671511. Photos taken 7/18/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Signal 2001-130 - 41.979911, -87.674593. Photos taken 7/18/25 by Nestor Chavez

INACTIVE SIRENS:

Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000 - Sauganash Elementary School. 1954 T-640 Former Chicago Civil Defense Siren. Photos taken 8/9/24. Submitted by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000 - 41.92912, -87.72793. Former Chicago Civil Defense Siren. Photos taken 6/1/25 by Nestor Chavez.

Federal Sign & Signal STL-10 - 41.74792, -87.68719. Photos taken 11/23/25 by Nestor Chavez

Federal Enterprises STL-10 - 41.72498, -87.62320. Former Chicago Civil Defense Siren. Photos taken 11/16/25 by Nestor Chavez.

HOR Super Sirex (Decapitated) - West Marble Place & South Clark Street on the Field Building. Photos submitted by Joseph S.

HISTORY - The City of Chicago had a system of lots of Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000s, STL-10s, and Model 7s and a Model 5, 5 HOR Super Sirexes, and as low as 8 Chryslers, and as high as possibly up to the 20s. These sirens were all replaced with various series of 2001s which do attack for tornado warnings, and in downtown there are a few Modulators and DSAs scattered about, which do wail for tornado warnings. 2001s and MODs formerly did fast wail and alternate wail (respectively) for tornado warnings.

HOR Super Sirex - This photo was found on illinoisfiretrucks.com. The photo was taken at N Dearborn Street & W Illinois Street, viewing the Super Sirex located on a building near N Michigan Ave & E Grand Ave.

FS Thunderbolt 1000 - This unit is still standing, though not straight, at S Prairie Ave & E 29th St.

https://www.illinoisfiretrucks.com/CHICAGO-FIRE-DEPARTMENT

See here for many photos of the historic sirens of the City of Chicago.

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