The Wall Street Journal recently published an article that delves into a long-standing debate within the fire service: what color should emergency vehicles be? The piece highlights a small district in Florida that has taken a unique approach by choosing a non-traditional color for its fire apparatus.
In most parts of the country, red remains the standard for emergency vehicles—often referred to as "fire-engine red" due to its visibility and symbolism. However, for nearly 40 years, firefighters in Palm Beach Gardens have gone with a bold yellow-green hue. They claim this color is more visible, especially during the heavy rains and poor visibility typical of South Florida summers. Fire Chief Pete Bergel frequently points to his 30 years of experience with the department as proof: not a single fire truck has ever been rear-ended. “It’s in your face,†he says, emphasizing how the color stands out on the road.
While many departments across the U.S. stick to red or red-based color schemes, some local fire departments have chosen alternative options. These include Elk Grove Township (Division 1), Pingree-Grove and Rutland-Dundee (Division 2), Glencoe (Division 3), Fox Lake and Winthrop Harbor (Division 4), Clarendon Hills (Division 10), Fox River & Countryside (Division 13), Coal City (Division 15), Lisle-Woodridge (Division 16), Elwood (Division 19), and Crete (Division 27). Over time, several nearby departments have transitioned from white, yellow, or lime green to red or red two-tone schemes, reflecting a broader trend toward standardization.
The article raises interesting questions about safety, visibility, and tradition in emergency vehicle design. While red has long been the norm, the choice of color can have real-world implications for driver awareness and response times. For those interested in reading more, the full Wall Street Journal article is available HERE.
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