Illinois (fireboat)

The Illinois was a fireboat operated by the Chicago Fire Department.^[1] She was commissioned in 1888, and she was then described as the most powerful fireboat afloat.^[2] She was one of the first fireboats to have a steel hull at a time when other fireboats were built of wood.^[3]

The Illinois was struck by falling debris while fighting a massive fire in 1908, and sunk in 20 feet of water in the Chicago River.^[4] She was however quickly refloated, and put back into service.