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Meet the Captain
Captain George Rabiela
O'Leary's Fire Truck Tours is owned and operated by retired Chicago fire captain George Rabiela, who served the city of Chicago's fire department for thirty years. He was also the coordinator for the public education unit of the Chicago fire department where he was in charge of educating our children and adults during one of the most difficult periods in our nation’s history: September 11th, 2001. During the crisis, Southwest Airlines flew him and his 110-pound Shepherd, Moses, down to McArthur Airport. From there he and Moses reported to ground zero to assist with the recovery effort.
As coordinator for the public education unit, George not only gave information on the CFD and its 5,200 members, as well as the one hundred fire stations in the city of Chicago, but he also made it an educational experience for the children teaching them practical fire safety tips.
As a young firefighter, George was assigned to Engine Company 18 on Roosevelt and May: until recently the oldest active fire station in the city of Chicago. There, as a candidate firefighter, he performed his first rescue at the famous Fontana’s Deli where he pulled a lady and a child out of the third-floor window. From Engine 18, he moved to Truck 18 (located at 50th and Union) where he sustained injuries while ventilating a roof. George fell twenty-eight feet with the pick of his axe piercing his leg. From there, George was promoted to Lieutenant and after five years, he was promoted to Captain.
He was also assigned to the West side of Chicago at Tower Ladder 14 where he performed numerous rescues and got the nickname, “Captain G.”
George Rabiela has recently retired from Engine Company 13 where he served as Captain for over 13 years."
O'Leary's Fire Truck Tours is owned and operated by retired Chicago fire captain George Rabiela, who served the city of Chicago's fire department for thirty years. He was also the coordinator for the public education unit of the Chicago fire department where he was in charge of educating our children and adults during one of the most difficult periods in our nation’s history: September 11th, 2001. During the crisis, Southwest Airlines flew him and his 110-pound Shepherd, Moses, down to McArthur Airport. From there he and Moses reported to ground zero to assist with the recovery effort.
As coordinator for the public education unit, George not only gave information on the CFD and its 5,200 members, as well as the one hundred fire stations in the city of Chicago, but he also made it an educational experience for the children teaching them practical fire safety tips.
As a young firefighter, George was assigned to Engine Company 18 on Roosevelt and May: until recently the oldest active fire station in the city of Chicago. There, as a candidate firefighter, he performed his first rescue at the famous Fontana’s Deli where he pulled a lady and a child out of the third-floor window. From Engine 18, he moved to Truck 18 (located at 50th and Union) where he sustained injuries while ventilating a roof. George fell twenty-eight feet with the pick of his axe piercing his leg. From there, George was promoted to Lieutenant and after five years, he was promoted to Captain.
He was also assigned to the West side of Chicago at Tower Ladder 14 where he performed numerous rescues and got the nickname, “Captain G.”
George Rabiela has recently retired from Engine Company 13 where he served as Captain for over 13 years."
