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The latest installment in our series exploring fire trucks in the Chicago area takes a closer look at departments within MABAS Division 3 that have gradually transitioned to using red fire apparatus over the years. We’ll also highlight a department that has consistently used red trucks, though at one point they owned an engine that was a different color.
Back in the day, Deerfield operated two Ward LaFrance P80 series engines equipped with the Ambassador cab. Engine 720 arrived in 1973 featuring a 1,250-gallon-per-minute (GPM) pump, while Engine 712 joined the fleet in 1977. Engine 720 held 750 gallons of water, whereas Engine 712 carried 1,000 gallons. Both were painted in a striking combination of white over lime green.
Take a look at this image of Engine 712 from 1977, showcasing its Ward LaFrance P80 design with the Ambassador cab. This particular engine boasted a 1,500-GPM pump and carried 1,000 gallons of water—a true workhorse in its era.
[Image description: A vintage photo of Deerfield Engine 712, a 1977 Ward LaFrance P80 with an Ambassador cab. The truck is predominantly white with lime green accents, clearly showing its unique color scheme.]
Switching gears, the Glenbrook Fire Protection District (originally the Glenview Rural Fire Protection District) merged with the Glenview Fire Department in 1992. The older Glenview Rural trucks were red, but once the district name changed, the Glenbrook apparatus shifted to yellow. Every subsequent purchase followed suit, maintaining the yellow theme. They had three American LaFrance Pioneer Series engines, including a newer Pioneer II model. Additionally, there was a compact squad vehicle and a 1968 Ford/Snorkel. The original red 75-foot Snorkel underwent refurbishment in 1986 and re-emerged yellow from Pierce, complete with a new four-door Arrow cab. Later acquisitions included a Hackney squad and two Pierce Arrow engines.
Here’s a glimpse of Glenbrook Engine 144, a 1976 Pioneer Series American LaFrance engine with 750 gallons of water and a 1,250-GPM pump. Its classic design and yellow color make it a standout piece of firefighting history.
[Image description: A high-quality photograph of Glenbrook Engine 144, a 1976 American LaFrance Pioneer Series engine. The truck is painted in bright yellow, clearly visible in the photo.]
On the other hand, Glenview fire apparatus has always maintained a traditional red color scheme. In 1975, they acquired a pumper-squad from Seagrave with a 300-gallon water tank. Squad 8 initially arrived in white over lime green. Over time, this unit was repainted red, though it retained its distinctive white roof.
Check out this image of Glenview's Pumper-Squad 8, a 1975 Seagrave P-Series engine with 300 gallons of water and a 1,500-GPM pump. Unlike most of the department's equipment, this one stood out with its non-red coloration.
[Image description: A detailed photo of Glenview's Pumper-Squad 8, a 1975 Seagrave P-Series engine. The truck features a unique white-and-lime-green color scheme, setting it apart from the standard red equipment.]
Meanwhile, Northbrook once painted their units yellow, after transitioning away from their previous red color scheme. Their fleet included three engines, a Sutphen tower ladder, two squad units, and various utility vehicles—all painted yellow. Even their modular ambulances sported a matching yellow stripe. However, in 1996, they updated their fleet with two engines, a squad, and a ladder from Pierce, adopting a white-over-red color scheme.
For those interested in older images, here’s a photo of Northbrook Engine 58, a 1975 American LaFrance Pacemaker Series engine with 500 gallons of water and a 1,000-GPM pump. Notably, the Pacemaker featured a conventional custom fire cab by TCM rather than the typical American LaFrance Century or Pioneer cab.
[Image description: A classic image of Northbrook Engine 58, a 1975 American LaFrance Pacemaker Series engine. The truck is predominantly white with red accents, reflecting its updated color scheme.]
Finally, the Park Ridge Fire Department ran with white-over-lime-green apparatus for many years. Among their fleet were a Mack CF/Pirsch mid-mount ladder, a custom cab-over Pirsch engine, and two Seagrave WB Series low-profile engines, all painted to match. Their modular ambulances also featured stripes that echoed the apparatus colors. Eventually, all but the mid-mount ladder were repainted red.
To view previous installments of this series, simply enter the word "color" into the search field.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of Park Ridge Engine 44, a 1958 conventional cab Pirsch engine. The truck has a classic white-and-lime-green color scheme, highlighting its unique appearance.]