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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 began installing air raid sirens after the United States entry into World War II. Throughout the 1940's and early 1950's, Chicago installed up to 20 Chrysler Air Raid Sirens along with a number of Foster Engineering Steam Sirens. This WWII era network was gradually replaced throughout the 1950s and 60s with a system of over 100 air raid sirens. This Civil Defense network comprised of H.O.R Super Si-Rex sirens, Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000s, STL-10s, and Model 7s (and one Model 5), along with several others. The CD system was first tested in unison on March 1st, 1958 and continued to operate until the 1990's. By then, most of the sirens were malfunctioning or completely inoperable, leading the City of Chicago to replace their CD system with a network of Federal Signal Modulators and 2001s. This is the system that remains today.
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.
Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000 - 1953 "Jailbar" model. Serial No. T-236. Located at an abandoned police station at 220 East 29th Street. Tipped over and partially removed in 2025. Pictures taken by Ray P. in May 2021.
Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000 - 1952 "Jailbar" model. Located at an abandoned fire station at 1723 West Greenleaf Avenue. Head was removed in 2024. Pictures taken by Ray P. in December 2023.
See here for the locations, information, and photos of Chicago's Civil Defense air raid siren network.
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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