Why Are Fire Trucks Yellow

Why Are Fire Trucks yellow? The Evolution of Firetruck Colors in the U.S.

In our daily lives, we are familiar with fire trucks being bright red. However, in some countries—like the United States—fire trucks are often painted lime yellow or green. So why are fire trucks red in the first place?

Back in the 1920s, black Ford cars dominated the roads in the U.S., making the red firetruck stand out clearly in traffic. One theory suggests that red paint was the most expensive at the time, so fire departments chose it as a symbol of pride. However, is that really the reason?

Fire trucks—whether it’s a type 1 fire engine, type 2 fire engine, or a fire command vehicle—are designed for emergency response, fire suppression, and rescue. One of their most distinctive features is their bright, eye-catching color. Red is the color of danger in many cultures and is used to make vehicles easily recognizable. It also has the longest wavelength of visible light, making it visible from a distance. That’s why “STOP” signs are often red.

Despite that, recent studies show that the human eye is more sensitive to wavelengths between 510 nm and 570 nm, which fall in the yellow-green range. That’s one reason why school buses in the U.S. are painted yellow. In low light or foggy conditions, red becomes harder to see, while yellow firetrucks or lime green ones are more noticeable.

In fact, a New York optometrist conducted a study on firetruck-related road accidents and found that red firetrucks were less visible at night than green or yellow ones. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 10% of firefighter fatalities occur in traffic accidents. As a result, lime-yellow rescue fire trucks were introduced in the mid-1970s in the United States. A supporting study published in Australia in 1978 also promoted the visibility benefits of yellow emergency vehicles. Today, all fire trucks in Canberra, Australia, are yellow.

Whether it’s a brush truck, a type 6 brush truck, a big fire truck, or a fire fighter truck, visibility can be a matter of life or death. Even rescue vehicles, fire chief cars, and fire rescue trucks have started switching to high-visibility colors.

With increasing awareness of safety, some fire departments are gradually adopting yellow firetrucks. So, if you're a manufacturer, buyer, or enthusiast browsing fire truck videos, comparing different kinds of trucks, or trying to understand the difference between fire truck and fire engine, this shift is something you should know.

Looking for specific gear like a car fire extinguisher mount, fire extinguisher hook, or even agricultural tools like mini tillers? Or wondering how wide is a fire truck or how much it costs for a fire truck to come to your house? As fire truck designs continue to evolve, so do the choices for buyers and agencies.

In conclusion, regardless of environmental lighting conditions, yellow firetrucks are scientifically more visible. That’s why more and more fire departments are adopting them. You might just see fewer firetruck red vehicles on the road in the future.