Fire Engines Photos

Pete, when I was stationed in Kununurra in the Kimberley 1977-2003 we use to fly up to Darwin in the Northern Territory for what was known locally as a 'dirty weekend!' On my first visit to the Central Fire Station I was paralysed to see they had done this very thing to their front line DENNIS appliance! (Painted it lime green/yellow) but the other appliances were all red! Perhaps one of our Darwin friends can comment here, , , , Pavel, Western Australia, , , ,

Added by Pavel Zaremba on 19 October 2007.

West sussex county fire brigade operated twenty seven front line appliances and also support vehicles in coventry fire brigade yellow between the years of 1969 and 1972. The colour originated from the city of coventry fire brigade whom in 1966 started colour experimentation with fire appliances involving shades of yellow, fluorescent based colour schemes and white, this all being undertaken on
1.18 scale models with simulated backgrounds depicting fire they created a shade of yellow which showed up as white at night under sodiam street lights and in adverse light conditions the result being the brigade adopted this for the livery of their appliances the first full size appliances arrived in 1967 and were escape emergency tenders/pumps and incorporated many facilities way in advance for their time. Many other brigades followed such as west sussex, york, wallasey,
newport(south wales) while many other brigades operated isolated appliances in the colour. In 1972 a home office directive was issued to brigades in the u.k
making the recommendation that red is the colour most associated with fire engines and this should be the recommended colour for all brigades. The yellow was phased out with replacements and repaints with some lasting to the early eighties however west sussex were the only uk brigade to operate the d model from dennis in yellow being based at midhurst/storrington/littlehampton and numbered three.

Added by BOB CARVER on 19 October 2007.

Pavel, thanks for your comments, I actually have photo's of the vehicles of the
N.T.F.S, in question in yellow.One being a 1970 Dennis 750gpm pumper(no doors?),
and the other being a 1970 ERF/Metz 5 section (37mtr) 125ft turntable ladder.
The'TL'also did'nt have doors.Bet that was cold in the winter?.Pete M.

Added by Pete Matten on 20 October 2007.

Bob, good to hear from you again.Although I spent 30 years with the W.S.F.B., your
knowledge of the appliances and history are far greater then mine so I thank you
for your input.Its been helpful to me, and I hope some interest to others.Pete M.


Added by Pete Matten on 20 October 2007.

Hi gents, I have just posted a picture of our yellow 'tropical cab' 1964 Dennis F34 supplied to the Northern Territory Fire Brigade in Australia. This appliance was in Darwin up to the mid 1980s before it was withdrawn from service and, along with a 1972 Dennis F49, was painted yellow at the whim of the Chief Fire Officer. In 1983 the CFO was replaced, and from then the fire engines were supplied and remained red.

Regards - Lou

Added by Lou Cowan on 31 October 2007.

Lou, thanks for your in-put, interesting to know now the year of the Dennis F49 photo in my collection from the N.T.F.S., and also when they went all red again."Great picture"of the Dennis F34 in yellow(4393)of the N.T.F.S...Pete M.

Added by Pete Matten on 31 October 2007.

My father was stationed at Midhurst fire Station, I can remember my father driving the yellow Dennis and the Yellow Land Rover.

Added by Ian Chennell on 11 April 2010.

I'm researching the use of colour on fire appliances and wonder if anyone has a copy of a paper done by Coventry that lead to its adoption of yellow for fire applicances. I saw a copy of the paper about 30 years ago care of my Fire Control Officer in NSW, but have lost touch with him.



Added by Clive on 29 January 2011.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.