Riddle

Why are fire engines red?

http://www.sta72.com/Why-Are-Fire-Trucks-Red.html

The most widely-accepted reason that fire engines are painted red dates back to the 1800s – a time when there was a lot of competition between the fire brigades of neighboring cities and towns. The firefighters of each brigade took great pride in their pump. Each brigade wanted their rig to stand out by being the cleanest, having the most brass, or being a regal color. Because red was the most expensive color, that’s what color most crews chose to paint the pump.

Other sources cite the tradition of painting fire engines red going back to the early 1920’s. Henry Ford wanted to make cars as inexpensively as possible and only offered cars in one color: black. With all of these black vehicles on the road, the fire service began painting their vehicles red in an effort to stand out.

Today, just as you have many more choices of colors available to you for your vehicle, so do the fire engine manufacturers, and it is not uncommon to see white, yellow, blue, orange, green, or even black fire engines, in addition to red. And while some studies hint that colors such as lime-green may be more visible to the public than traditional red, the vast majority of fire departments continue to use red fire engines – a color instantly recognized by everyone as that of a fire engine.

Most recent fire engines purchased have shifted to the Chicago-famed, black over red paint scheme. The first closed-cab chief’s cars in Chicago had black canvas tops which would not take paint. Someone among the brass liked the appearance, so as new closed-cab apparatus came onto the roster; the cabs of the fire engines were painted black.

You may also notice the green light on fire engines in northern states. This is also a traditional Chicago-style fire engine feature. Commissioner Albert Goodrich of the Chicago Fire Department (1927 - 1931) had a nautical background. He applied the marine scheme (red light on port, green light on starboard) to fire apparatus, and the idea became a tradition of the Chicago Fire Department. It is also used to mark the bay doors at most Chicago fire stations.

Thats not the riddle.:slight_smile:

Perhaps it is, and you just have the wrong question! :shock::wink:

I asked my father years ago when I was a child “why are fire engines red?”

He sparked up and with great excitement said

Fire engines are red because they have 8 wheels and 4 men 8 and 4 = 12 there are 12 inches in a ruler Queen Elizabeth was a ruler there was a ship named the Queen Elizabeth ships sail the seas and seas have fish fish have fins and the Russians fought the fins and thats why fire engines are red because they are always rushing.:slight_smile:

Nicks riddles just made me think about that. I had my father for 40 wounderful years and miss him everyday.

That’s just about the way I heard about 60 or so years ago–so it must be the reason.

Red makes them go faster!

Red has always been the color that catches the most attention. Even people that see a red sports car will look closer as it goes by. A red fire truck coming at you at 100 miles /hr will make you pay close attention too! LOL
I say this because it can be.

You guys are great just a wealth of good information…

You are not allowed to post things like that on the this forum. Just ask the forum police.

Yea there are those who just don’t understand what discuss anything you wish means.