Parking restrictions continue in a small portion of downtown Franklin Park as crews set up to film a vacant building on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Calwagner Street to be part of an upcoming episode of the “Chicago Fire” TV show.
The show’s 13th season is scheduled to start Sept. 25. But for 10 days in August, parking is restricted as scenes from the popular NBC prime-time drama are set to be filmed Wednesday and Thursday. .
Open 4 Business Productions LLC is doing the filming.
Luis Perez, location manager for Open 4 Business Productions, told Pioneer Press that both an interior and exterior scene are scheduled to be shot, and that filming involves business and residential property at the intersection.
A crane and other heavy equipment has been parked outside of the triangle-shaped building on the corner of Franklin and Calwagner, with an upper window facing Franklin prepped for filming and the lower exterior wall on the Calwagner side also set up.
“The building itself gives us space to perform our incident scene and the scenery around the neighborhood offers us a great aesthetic,” Perez said. “It is fantastic for filming.”
An assortment of businesses – including small retail stores and professional service offices – line the street that also includes eateries with outdoor seating.
On social media posts, residents wondered out loud if they could walk near the area and be picked up by cameras.
According to Perez, the two-day shoot marks the first time “Chicago Fire” scenes have been filmed in Franklin Park. He estimated that close to 100-plus people would work on the production.
“Pyrotechnics will be used. It’s simulated smoke and fire,” Perez said.
Franklin Park police Chief Michael Witz told Pioneer Press that it was a quick turnover of four days from when the village was contacted about filming to the production company having agreements in place and certification of insurance to do the work.
Witz said the company pays for services provided by the police department, which was scheduled to have four officers detailed to the filming.
More Top Picks Web Stories
The chief didn’t have an estimate of costs to the production company, especially since the amount is based on which officers are assigned.
Perez said the scenes filmed in Franklin Park are scheduled to air on Oct. 9 in an episode written by Nancy Kiu and directed by Reza Tabrizi, the show’s house director as well as an executive producer.
“What we show on television is mostly what real firefighters deal with and the emergency response, so having that intrigue of our special effects, our presence and the overall filming aspect is intriguing,” Perez said.
The parking restrictions call for no parking/tow zone from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both sides of Franklin from 9708 Franklin Ave. to Calwagner, and both sides of Calwagner from Franklin to 3141 Calwagner St. on select dates from Aug. 14 to Aug. 28.
“Vehicles that don’t comply with the signage of the ‘no parking’ order during filming, what we will do is we will relocate the vehicle, not at the owner’s expense. We’ll relocate those vehicles into our Metra parking lot, which is about two blocks away … so it’s not a big inconvenience to residents,” Witz said.
Perez explained that he worked with multiple village leaders to be able to film at that location.
“The biggest concern was, of course, our impact in the community … and making sure we’re good guests in the village, as we always try to be anywhere that we film,” Perez said.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.