Aerial Ladder Should Not Be Painted Black
Fire Trucks in 40 Areas Change Their Colors
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November 12, 1972
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MAYWOOD — Fire Departments in nearly 40 communities throughout the slate have switched in the last year from the traditional red engines to trucks painted" white and in such hues as lime and chrome yellow.
"There's nothing esthetic about this," said Robert W. Hoffman who was chief of the Maywood Volunteer Fire Department when that town decided to order an aerial ladder truck painted in what some refer to as lime yellow and others as limegreen.
"If you took all the colors into the dark you would find that red is only one above black as far as visibility is concerned," he said. Mr. Hoffman based his statement on studies conducted by such groups as the National Safety Council, the International Fire Chieg Association and a special Presidential commission.
"A 'recommendation is expected to be made by these groups in the near future," Mr. Hoffman added, "that all fire trucks be painted yellow and ambulances appear in white."
In Newark, Fire Chief Joseph M. Redden is currently awaiting delivery of six limeyellow pumping engines.
"We ordered ours in lime yellow because we believe they will be more visible at night both in responding and at the scene," he said.
White Trucks Yellowed
There are those, however, who disagree with Chief Red den. "We had white engines for over 40 years, probably just to be different," noted Belleville's Deputy Fire Chief Harold Dambra.
"But we went back to red," he said. "They're easier and faster to get and they don't yellow. The white ones yellowed where the surf hit them and we had trouble keeping them looking good."
Personally, I think we have enough trouble getting by on the streets even with the sirens going," he went on. "Going away from traditional red would make it even more difficult. If we were painted yellow they might think we were utility trucks."
The volunteer fire department in. River Edge has had white trucks for more than 30 years. "Originally we had them to distinguish ourselves from the other companies," stated Chief Otto Reinach. "But we kept buying them painted white because they stand out like a sore thumb. The Safety Council now says lime yellow is better, but we'll stick to ours."
In Hackensack, where there have always been red trucks, Chief John. A. Bishop doesn't believe they will ever change colors.
Origin of Tradition
"It isn't the idea that red is traditional," he said. "Yellow is supposed to be more visible at night, and I suppose that's true. But we have enough emergency lights on our trucks to make them obvious without employing the coloration they're emphasizing now. I don't feel the color makes that much difference."
Teaneck has just ordered new trucks painted in traditional red. A spokesman for the red Paterson Fire Department has heard nothing said if his city will ever switch to a new color. And even in Maywood, where the $83,000 truck has created talk since its arrival in June, a new pumper has been ordered with a white cab and a red body.
Eugene I. Morris, who heads the New Jersey Fire Museum in South Orange, gave this explanation of the red‐engine tradition:
"Red was known as a distress color. And it has been used for fire engines since shortly after the Civil War when horse ‐drawn engines were introduced to town and city streets.
"Prior to the Civil War, city streets were so narrow it was impossible for horsedrawn vehicles to turn the corners," Mr. Morris continued. "So fire engines were hand drawn by volunteers who were referred to as 'ex empt' because they were not required to participate in military service, jury duty or county road work."
"I think it will be nice to have yellow engines," he added. "But they will have to be cleaned more often."
In spite of the resistance to changing the color of engines, spokesmen for two of the major fire‐truck makers believe that yellow is a practical idea.
"The lime yellow that's been becoming so popular during the past year is even easier to see than yellow at night," said Edward Yanick, service foreman of the American La France service center in Rahway.
"The reception is astounding," commented Whitman Campbell who markets and promotes Ward La France and Snorkel fire trucks and equipment from his headquarters in Dayton, New Jersey. "Units in Carteret, Eliza beth and Secaucus have ordered chrome yellow trucks."
"Towns like Hoboken,. North Centerville and West‐field ordered red trucks. But shortly before their delivery, dates came up they switched over to lime yellow."
Jersey City has just ordered 10 pumpers and three ladder trucks in a shade that, according to Acting Chief of Department John Naughton, "is something like lime yellow."
"We think they will offer. better visibility," he said. "And you won't see many., buses or trucks in that shade. That color really 'stands out.
A 9‐year‐old local boy was a bit confused at the first glimpse of his borough's limo yellow truck.
"What is it?" asked William Loshiavo 3d, and then' he looked closer. "Oh, it's a fire engine. That's nice."
Aerial Ladder Should Not Be Painted Black
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/12/archives/fire-trucks-in-40-areas-change-their-colors.html