Brief history of firefighting
Firefighting and fire prevention have been around for thousands of years. The earliest known firefighters were in Ancient Rome, where slaves would operate manual pumps to deliver water to fires. In the Middle Ages, “bucket brigades” were formed where people would pass buckets of water from the nearest source to the site of the fire in an attempt to control it.
More organized firefighting emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as cities grew. Hand pumpers pulled by people or horses were used to pump water from wells, ponds, and other sources to fight fires. The first fire engines were developed during this time period as well. These manual pumpers allowed firefighters to deliver higher water pressure than the earlier bucket brigades.
As cities continued growing in the 19th and early 20th centuries, horse-drawn steam pumpers came into use. These allowed water to be pumped over longer distances and reach taller buildings. Around this same time, the first professional fire departments began emerging in major cities.
Motorized fire engines were introduced in the early 1900s, improving the speed and reach of firefighting capabilities. Aerial ladders, water towers, and other specialized equipment also came into use during this time period. Radios and other communication devices further improved coordination. In more recent decades, technology has continued advancing firefighting equipment and capabilities.
History of the iconic red color
So when did fire engines become the familiar red color we know today? There are a few key factors that contributed to this classic look:
Visibility: In the early days of motorized fire trucks in the early 20th century, red was chosen in part for high visibility. Bright red makes the trucks stand out and be seen from a distance. This was especially important at a time when roads were becoming busier with other vehicles. Being highly visible improves response times and safety.
Tradition: Red had already been an established color for earlier manually pulled firefighting equipment. As horse-drawn and then motorized fire wagons and trucks came into use, they continued the red paint scheme. So in a sense, the tradition of using red simply carried over.
Associations with red: The color red is associated with things like heat, fire, and danger. A bright red fire truck is easy to identify and associate with its emergency role. Red also contrasts well against common backgrounds like concrete and brick.
Cost: In the early 20th century, red paint was less expensive than other colors. Since fire departments often had limited budgets, red was an affordable and logical choice.
Over the years, the iconic red color has become firmly established as a fire engine standard. It is highly functional but also reflects tradition and identity. The red fire truck is instantly recognizable as an emergency vehicle.
Standardization
As firefighting equipment became more advanced and standardized in the 20th century, guidelines and standards were established regarding the red color.
For example, in 1947 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) set NFPA 1901, which established “fire apparatus red” as the standard color for fire engines and equipment. This set specific color requirements in terms of chroma, hue, and luminance. A similar British Standard (BS 381C) was also defined.
These standards were updated over the following decades. The intent was to ensure consistency across fire departments and jurisdictions. Standardized equipment colors, reflectors, and other markings help improve visibility and safety everywhere fire trucks operate.
Today’s fire engine red color is set by following modern NFPA, BS, or similar international standards. This helps maintain the traditional look while ensuring optimal visibility. Consistency also improves efficiency for fire apparatus manufacturers.
Use and regulations today
The fire engine red color remains ubiquitous today as an instant visual identifier. However, regulations regarding its use have become more strict over the decades.
For example, in the mid-20th century it was more common for regular consumers to paint their personal vehicles red. However, using fire engine red is now strictly limited in most jurisdictions:
- Fire trucks, fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles are typically the only type of vehicles permitted to use regulations fire engine red colors.
- Use of fire engine red, emergency vehicle red, or similar colored paint on any unauthorized vehicle is illegal in most places.
- Laws also govern use of red emergency lights, reflectors, flashers, and other markings on personal vehicles.
These types of regulations help ensure citizens only see fire engine red on actual emergency vehicles, improving recognition and safety. Regulation also helps reduce instances of impersonating emergency vehicles.
So while fire engine red is a strong tradition, it is also a color that now requires specific authorization in most jurisdictions. It remains an iconic emergency vehicle color with high visibility and strong public association with the emergency services.
Psychological associations
Fire engine red is more than just a practical color choice. There are also psychological associations tied to red that relate to fire trucks and emergency vehicles:
Danger warning: Red is strongly tied to communicating danger, hazards, or warnings. Seeing a red fire truck immediately alerts us to an emergency situation.
Heat and fire: Red is associated with heat, fire, and flames. This connects well to the purpose of fire engines and crews.
Urgency: Red conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy. Red fire trucks arrive with priority in emergency situations.
Blood and life: Red is the color of blood and life. This relates metaphorically to the life-saving role of emergency services.
Stop and pay attention: Red signals the need to stop and pay attention. Fire engines demand that other drivers stop and yield.
So red has strong psychological symbolism and associations that complement the emergency role of fire trucks. These psychological factors likely also played a role in establishing and maintaining the red color tradition.
Other fire truck colors
While red is by far the most common fire engine color, alternatives have emerged, especially in more recent decades:
- Yellow: Some jurisdictions have switched to yellow fire trucks. Yellow also has high visibility. It provides contrast if many other local emergency vehicles are red.
- White: Occasionally seen on fire trucks, often with reflective striping for visibility. Some feel white projects a more positive, calm image than red.
- Blue: Rarely seen for fire engines but more commonly used for command vehicles and Chief’s vehicles.
- Green: Associated with medical services such as ambulances more than fire trucks.
- Black: Sometimes seen as an accent color on fire trucks, especially for lettering.
However, red remains the standard. Yellow fire trucks are the most common alternative but still represent only a small percentage of trucks on the road.
Why tradition continues
Even with some alternative colors emerging, the strong tradition of red fire engines persists:
- Red has a long-established identity with emergency vehicles and immediate recognition by the public.
- Regulations and standards reinforce consistency with the red color.
- Great psychological associations complement the emergency nature of fire trucks.
- Visibility and safety remain key factors. Red stands out against most backgrounds.
- Firefighting tradition and culture support continuation of the iconic red equipment.
- It provides branding, identity, and pride for fire crews.
So despite some diversification, the familiar fire engine red remains the standard and continues to hold great meaning as an emergency services icon. This bright red color will likely maintain its strong connection with firefighting for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
Fire engine red has a long, storied history and an iconic status in emergency services. While the red color was originally chosen for visibility, cost savings, and tradition, it has developed deeper symbolism and psychology over the decades. Regulations now preserve red as the consistent color of fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The tradition continues thanks to the strong identity and recognizability of red trucks, along with firefighting culture. So the next time you see a fire engine speeding by, you’ll know why they are still red!