Fire Trucks are Red!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on January 8, 2008 at 10:09am

According to Ashanti Iyengar Wassamattayou---
Red, as a primary color, contains tantric properties that stimulate the chakras and siphon the cerebral cortex, leading to greater visibility. However, if one wanted to respond in stealth mode, she reccomends seafoam green.
Let me know what you think, I'm here to hinder.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on January 8, 2008 at 10:23am

From www.scituatefire.com

The most widely-accepted reason that fire engines are painted red dates back to the 1800s -- a time when there was a lot of competition between the fire brigades of neighboring cities and towns. The firefighters of each brigade took great pride in their pump. Each brigade wanted their rig stand out by being the cleanest, having the most brass, or being a regal color. Because red was the most expensive color, that's what color most crews chose to paint the pump.

Other sources cite the tradition of painting fire engines red going back to the early 1920's. Henry Ford wanted to make cars as inexpensively as possible and only offered cars in one color: black. With all of these black vehicles on the road, the fire service began painting their vehicles red in an effort to stand out.

As for colours standing out, I honestly don't think the colour of the vehicle matters a whole lot, as much as the lights. Our police are going back to blue and red lights, and away from blue and white because the white light does not register as well apparently. The blue lights they are now using are LED and amazingly brilliant. We are apparently going to see blue LED's on our trucks at some point as well, hopefully down low enough where they will be easily seen in the rear view mirror of the idiot who never seems to realize there is a fire truck behind them... you know the one, that guy who thinks everyone else is pulling over just for them??

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by patricia mccarty on November 16, 2008 at 8:23pm

Someone please help me off the floor... I'm rolling laughing, and I can't get up!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Oldman on January 8, 2008 at 10:43am

The most common theory on why red, goes back to the 1800's when fire companies had to compete with other towns or boroughs. This competition caused fire companies to want the most elaborate showy apparatus to call attention to their particular station or brigade. It is thought that red, being the most expensive paint was chosen, again to stand out. There is also another common theory that when Henry Ford started building cars, most were black. Fire departments chose red in order to stand out. At any rate it is a tradition.

There was a study done several years ago, I believe in Dallas, TX, that supposedly proved that lime yellow or yellow/white was the most visible color especially at night, and resulted in fewer apparatus involved collisions. I do know that lime yellow is the required FAA color for apparatus at commercial airports.

Back in the day when firefighters were more "tanked up" than their apparatus we had white trucks. The running joke was; white allowed us to find our trucks easier at a fire. Some traditions are better off dead.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 8, 2008 at 11:43am

Our trucks are "fluorescent" red. It is an iridescent color that allows any source of artificial or natural light to bounce off of it. We know that you can see the color from great distances, but that only allows the dummies to see you LONGER before they HIT you.
Traditional red creates shadows at night, unless you have additional lighting.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 8, 2008 at 11:48am

Dan:
YELLOW with red flames.
I could dig that.
You east coasters!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on January 17, 2008 at 11:22pm

Well THAT could be a new reality show...."Pimp My Apparatus" ....ok, wait, that sounds so wrong when you read it out loud.....never mind.
;)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Greenman on January 21, 2008 at 4:16am

That's "Pimp my Rig."

:-)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on January 8, 2008 at 4:13pm

HOORAY....!!!!!! FINALLY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS FIRETRUCKS...!!! We tell all our color challenged neighboring departments that yes a RED truck can/and sometimes will get you to a fire....BUT it take a YELLOW one to put it out......LOL

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judy Keihl on January 23, 2008 at 7:41pm

Good One ......go yellow

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jmillsaps2204 on February 21, 2008 at 8:33am

I honestly think that the people's house that is burning down could care less what color the truck is. LOL my $.02

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 8, 2008 at 4:33pm

Dan:
If you hold your ear to it and concentrate really hard, you can hear "Light My Fire" coming off of it.
Go to the passenger side-the B side and you will hear "Break On Through To The Other Side".
Now; aren't you glad I started this thread?
Who wants a Fresca?

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last