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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 transitioned to red fire apparatus over the years. We’ll also highlight a department that has always sported a red color scheme but once featured an engine of a different hue.
Deerfield had two Ward LaFrance P80 series engines equipped with the Ambassador cab. Engine 720 arrived in 1973, featuring a 1,250-GPM pump, while Engine 712 joined the fleet in 1977. Engine 720 held 750 gallons of water, and Engine 712 carried 1,000 gallons. Both trucks were initially painted white over lime green—a rather unusual color combination for firefighting vehicles.
Take a moment to admire Deerfield Engine 712, a 1977 Ward LaFrance P80 with an Ambassador cab. This engine boasted a 1,500-GPM pump and carried 1,000 gallons of water. The photo comes from Larry Shapiro’s collection.
Next up, we turn our attention to the Glenbrook Fire Protection District, which merged with the Glenview Fire Department in 1992. Originally, the Glenview Rural apparatus was red, but after the district's name change, the Glenbrook fleet transitioned to yellow. New purchases continued to arrive in this color palette. Among their equipment were three American LaFrance Pioneer Series engines, including a newer Pioneer II model. Additionally, they had a small squad and a 1968 Ford/Snorkel. The red 75-foot Snorkel underwent refurbishment in 1986, returning from Pierce as a yellow truck with a new four-door Arrow cab. Later, they acquired a Hackney squad and two Pierce Arrow engines.
Let’s shift our focus to Glenbrook Engine 144, a 1976 Pioneer Series from American LaFrance. This engine carried 750 gallons of water and featured a 1,250-GPM pump. Another interesting piece of history comes from Glenview, where their apparatus has always been red. However, in 1975, they added a pumper-squad from Seagrave with a 300-gallon water tank. Squad 8 originally arrived in white over lime green but was later repainted red, though it kept its white roof.
Northbrook's apparatus was yellow for many years, a departure from their previous red scheme. Their fleet included three engines, a Sutphen tower ladder, two squad units, and utility vehicles, all painted yellow. Even their ambulances had a matching yellow stripe. In 1996, the department made a significant change, transitioning to white over red when they received two engines, a squad, and a ladder from Pierce.
Lastly, the Park Ridge Fire Department operated with white over lime green apparatus for years. This included a conventional Pirsch engine, a Mack CF/Pirsch mid-mount ladder, a custom cab-over Pirsch engine, and two Seagrave WB Series low-profile engines painted to match. Stripes on their modular ambulances echoed the color scheme of their vehicles. Eventually, all but the mid-mount ladder were repainted red.
To revisit earlier posts in this series, simply enter the word "color" into the search field.
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This article delves into the fascinating evolution of firefighting vehicle colors across various departments in the Chicago area. From Deerfield’s unique lime green and white Ward LaFrance engines to Glenbrook’s transition from red to yellow apparatus, each department tells its own story. Some departments, like Glenview, maintained a consistent red theme, while others experimented with different hues. These changes often reflected shifts in local preferences or practical considerations. For those interested in more stories from this series, the search function remains your gateway to uncovering additional chapters.