Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
NFPA® actually receives the question, “Why are fire trucks red?” more often than you would think. In response to this, Learn Something New™ from NFPA Journal® decided to explore theories on why fire engines are so often painted red.
The world’s first organized municipal fire departments emerged in the mid-to late 1800s, and it is said that the early fire departments were fairly competitive with each other. One theory suggests that red was chosen because it was an expensive paint color to buy and allowed the fire department to boast. Another theory relates to the mass production of the Ford Model T’s in the 1920s. With so many black cars on the roadways, fire apparatus was painted red in order to stand out more.
Visit nfpa.org today.
©2020 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA). All rights reserved.
NFPA® actually receives the question, “Why are fire trucks red?” more often than you would think. In response to this, Learn Something New™ from NFPA Journal® decided to explore theories on why fire engines are so often painted red.
The world’s first organized municipal fire departments emerged in the mid-to late 1800s, and it is said that the early fire departments were fairly competitive with each other. One theory suggests that red was chosen because it was an expensive paint color to buy and allowed the fire department to boast. Another theory relates to the mass production of the Ford Model T’s in the 1920s. With so many black cars on the roadways, fire apparatus was painted red in order to stand out more.
Visit nfpa.org today.
©2020 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA). All rights reserved.
