Last week’s post HERE touched on how various fire departments around here have chosen different color schemes for their vehicles instead of the traditional red. Some departments have transitioned away from those unique hues back to the classic red, while a few readers noted that some still operate rigs in their original colors.
This marks the beginning of a new series where we’ll explore departments that have either changed their color schemes or may have had a vehicle in the past that didn’t match the rest of their fleet.
For Division 1:
Back in the day, Arlington Heights acquired a Mack CF engine that was originally a demo model, painted in a striking white over lime green finish.
*Caption: Arlington Heights Engine 411 from 1975, a Mack CF with a 1,500-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Elk Grove Village also experimented with lime green, featuring a Mack CF engine that caught the eye of many.
*Caption: Elk Grove Village’s Engine 118 from 1977, equipped with a CF600 chassis, carrying 700 gallons of water and boasting a 1,250-GPM pump. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Mt. Prospect’s early fleet stood out with a unique white-over-yellow color scheme. At least five engines and two mid-ship mounted aerials adopted this look over the years.
*Caption: Mount Prospect's Engine 518 from 1975, built by Pierce with a Hendrickson 1871-S cab. It featured a 1,000-GPM pump and a 500-gallon water tank. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Palatine’s fire department had its own distinctive touch with a white-over-lime-green Seagrave engine.
*Caption: Palatine’s 1973 Seagrave PB-Model engine, packing a 1,500-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Rolling Meadows embraced a similar aesthetic with two units painted white over lime green. Besides this Pierce engine, they also had a medium-duty squad built by E-ONE on a GMC chassis.
*Caption: Rolling Meadows’ Engine 612 from 1979, a Pierce Suburban built on a Ford L9000 chassis. It carried 500 gallons of water and had a 1,250-GPM pump. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Wheeling followed suit, adopting a white-over-lime-green scheme from the late 1960s until the introduction of their current Sutphen tower ladder in 1994. All units during this period shared this distinct color palette.
*Caption: Wheeling’s Engine 1 from 1969, a Ward LaFrance P80 Ambassador with a 1,250-GPM pump, 500 gallons of water, and a mid-ship elevating platform complete with a pre-piped deluge gun. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
Finally, here’s an image showcasing the “Palm Beach Gardens green†referenced in the Wall Street Journal article.
*Caption: Palm Beach Gardens Engine 5 from 1999, originally built in 1990 on a Pierce Javelin chassis. It features a 1,250-GPM pump and holds 750 gallons of water. Courtesy of Larry Shapiro.*
As we continue this series, expect more fascinating insights into how fire departments have adapted their vehicles over time. Stay tuned for more updates!
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