The color of fire trucks (part 3)
The third installment in this series delves into the departments within Division 2 that have transitioned their firefighting vehicles to the classic red color scheme over the years. One such department is the Bartlett & Countryside Fire Protection District, which once sported a vibrant bright yellow hue on many of its apparatus. Among these were several notable models, including two Hendrickson-Howe engines, one Ford-Howe engine, one Ford-Grumman engine, two Seagrave engines, and a Chevy-Super Vac squad. Interestingly, they made the switch to a black-over-red color scheme back in 1986.
This particular image showcases a fascinating piece of history: a unit that was designated as Engine 612. Delivered in 1973 by Howe, it featured a compact top-mount pump console designed to handle a 1,000-gallon-per-minute (GPM) pump. Equipped with 800 gallons of water, it rode on an International chassis fitted with a Hendrickson 1871S cab. The photograph is courtesy of the Larry Shapiro collection.
In another example, the Hanover Park & Ontarioville Fire Protection District also underwent a significant transformation in its vehicle color palette. Before switching to the more traditional black-over-red scheme in 2001, their fleet included apparatus painted in a distinctive white-over-lime green combination. This group comprised three Hendrickson-Howe engines akin to those found in Bartlett, along with a Hendrickson-American-LTI truck, a Spartan-EONE squad, a Spartan-EONE engine, and an EONE Cyclone engine—all originally adorned in white and lime green hues.
One particularly noteworthy vehicle from Hanover Park's collection is this 1977 American Fire Apparatus unit. It came equipped with a 100-foot LTI rear-mount aerial ladder and was constructed on a Hendrickson chassis paired with an 1871S cab. As with the previous image, this photo is part of the Larry Shapiro collection.
For those interested in diving deeper into this topic, earlier entries in this series can be found [here] and [here].
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As someone who has been following the evolution of firefighting equipment across different districts, I find it intriguing how color schemes have played such a pivotal role in identifying departments. While some districts opted for bold colors like bright yellow or lime green to stand out, others embraced a more subdued yet classic approach by adopting the timeless black-over-red motif. It’s not just about aesthetics; these choices often reflect the district's identity and operational philosophy. For instance, the decision by Bartlett & Countryside to shift to black-over-red might have been influenced by practical considerations, such as visibility or maintenance preferences. Similarly, Hanover Park's earlier use of white and lime green suggests an era when departments experimented with unique combinations before settling on something more conventional. It’s always exciting to see how historical trends shape current practices!
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