Fire trucks have traditionally been painted red for over 100 years. However, in recent decades, many fire departments have started using different color schemes for their trucks. This change has left many wondering – why are fire trucks no longer always red?
There are a few key reasons behind this shift:
Increased Visibility and Safety
One of the main motivations for moving away from the iconic red is increased visibility and safety. Red fire trucks blend in visually on today’s roads. With more cars, traffic, and distractions, bright colors like yellow and green make the trucks stand out more. This helps motorists see and yield to fire trucks responding to emergencies.
Studies have shown lime-yellow fire trucks are twice as visible as red ones. Bright colors also make the trucks more visible at night and in low light conditions. In addition, reflective striping and markings are commonly added for even greater visibility. This improves safety for both firefighters and civilians on the road.
Wider Color Options Today
Advances in technology have made a wider array of colors available for fire trucks. In the past, color choices were limited by issues with pigments and paint durability. Modern paints and coatings allow fire departments to select colors that increase visibility and meet their needs.
Manufacturers like Pierce, E-One, and Rosenbauer now offer custom color options. Many departments have moved away from classic red to brighter colors like yellow, green, white, blue, black, and even orange. Custom colors help modernize and rebrand fire departments’ public image.
Cost Savings
Surprisingly, choosing a non-red color can also lead to cost savings for fire departments. Because red is the traditional fire truck color, it is often more expensive. Some manufacturers charge more for red paint. Choosing a different color can help departments save on repainting and maintenance costs over time. Less common colors may also be cheaper to purchase upfront.
Regional Preferences and Pride
Across different regions and cities, fire departments often develop their own identities tied to colors. For example, New York is strongly associated with red fire trucks. But in other areas, bold colors have become a way for departments to showcase local pride.
In Los Angeles, trucks are painted brilliant yellow. San Francisco and Seattle use vivid blue and green schemes. Custom colors distinguish community departments and help them stand out from neighboring districts.
| City | Fire Truck Color |
|---|---|
| New York | Red |
| Los Angeles | Yellow |
| San Francisco | Blue |
| Seattle | Green |
Increased Variety of Apparatus
The diversification of fire trucks themselves has also led to less red being used. In addition to traditional engines and ladder trucks, modern fleets contain many specialty vehicles:
– Command vehicles – support incident management on site
– Hazmat trucks – carry supplies and equipment for hazardous materials response
– ARFF trucks – used for aircraft rescue and firefighting at airports
– Wildland trucks – designed for vegetation fires with 4-wheel drive, extra ground clearance, etc.
– Heavy rescue trucks – contain tools and supplies for complex rescues
– Rehab units – provide rest area and refreshments at lengthy emergencies
– Foam units – carry foam concentrate to deal with fuel-based fires
– Brush trucks – smaller trucks for vegetation fires
With such a wide range of trucks for different applications, a single color for the entire fleet is less common. Specialty units are often painted colors like white, gray, or lime green instead of traditional red.
Better Environmental Protection
Another consideration for some departments is selecting colors that better protect the trucks from environmental factors like sun exposure and corrosion. Prolonged sun damage can cause fading and degradation of the paint over time. Using more heat-reflective colors like white or silver helps deflect ultraviolet radiation. This improves long-term durability and resistance to fading.
Coastal departments also consider corrosion resistance with ocean salt, moisture, and chemicals in the air. Durable, easy-to-clean coatings better withstand these environmental conditions. Choosing colors like blue, black, or gray aids with corrosion protection compared to classic red paint.
Marketing and Branding
Using custom truck colors allows fire departments to strengthen their brand image and better market themselves to the community. Trucks serve as mobile billboards and make a memorable impression as they travel through local areas. Vivid colors help capture attention and associate the department with life-saving service.
Unique color schemes also help differentiate departments in regional metro areas that have multiple districts and stations. For example, in Los Angeles County, different fire departments paint trucks distinct colors like lime yellow, white, blue, and orange to stand out from neighboring districts. Custom colors establish recognizable department identities.
Future Possibilities
While tradition still influences many departments to stick with red trucks, the shift toward brighter, more varied colors will likely continue in the future. As technology improves paint durability and visibility, even more options may open up.
Some possibilities fire departments have considered:
– Digital wraps & decals – Allows easy temporarily changing designs and colors when needed
– “Chameleon” color-shifting paints – Could dynamically alter based on temps and sun exposure
– Electroluminescent paint – Glowing phosphorescent paint to improve nighttime visibility
– Thermochromic paint – Changes color based on heat to indicate truck status
With innovations like these, trucks may not be limited to static colors and could display multiple schemes. However, strict regulations generally require approval for any changes to make sure visibility and safety are not compromised.
Conclusion
While red fire trucks are an iconic tradition, shifts toward increased safety, visibility, variety, and custom branding have led to diverse color schemes today. The wider range of apparatus roles, regions, climates, and operating conditions have also contributed to this change. Though red trucks are still common, departments now have many factors to consider when selecting colors for their fleets. This had led to vibrant mixes of yellow, green, blue, white, black, and even neon trucks rolling through our cities and towns. The increased visibility and unique identities reflect changing priorities – while still recognizing the importance of a fire truck’s primary purpose of saving lives.