ALWAYS RED!
Why can’t fire engines continue to be red?
Fire department vehicles have always been red. That was the color which denoted danger of fire and the color was an assurance that help was on the way. In recent years this has been ignored and all over the
country we now have green fire engines, yellow, white, blue and, I dare say, one or two plaid or psychedelically decorated fire engines in multi-colors, as well.
Red was the accepted color for fire engines because of the long range of recognition of the color. Anyone can see red from afar.
So, with that scientific reason in mind, the designers went on the decree that blaze orange should be used for all hunting season garments because of the long range visibility of that color which can be seen from
afar.
Other planners insisted that school buses and highway repair and maintenance vehicles and equipment, must be painted yellow. Why? Because of the long range visibility of that color. Anyone can see it from afar.
The bright, clean, clear contrast white was chosen by other experts because it could be seen from afar.
Small, wonder, then, that someone eventually came to think that Irish green was best, or Mediterranean blue, or Mexican Magenta and our fire engines lost something which had long been the most recognized
emergency vehicles.
Rescue units come in all colors, it seems. The word “AMBULANCE” spelled backwards is to be emblazoned on their fronts for easy recognition in rear-view mirrors ahead of them. Anyone can see them from afar.
Another reason used by all is that the insurance companies are said to offer rates when vehicles are done up in a defensive colors.
Complainers, too, are easy to see from afar, but I still like my fire engines done up in a good coat of ”fire engine red” enamel - all brass or chrome fittings polished and a black-spotted Dalmatian hound aboard to
help find the fire plugs.
A.L.M. August 22, 2002 [c-337wds]
