Fire Engines Photos

Comment removed at request of Commentor

I totally agree, Andy. Don't get me wrong - cancer is a scourge that needs wiping out, and I recognise the fantastic work that many people and groups do in this field, but what exactly has the fire service got to do with cancer? Or any other disease for that matter?

What next? Macmillan nurses sporting sweatshirts emblazoned with gaudy banners urging us to check our smoke alarms? I think not. Sounds crazy when you look at it that way, doesn't it? Well, to my mind, this is just as crazy.

And had I not known about the purpose of the pink monstrosity in Merseyside, and it came up behind me on a shout, I don't think I would know whether to get out of the way or throw them a cheeky wave! I did not believe for one minute that it was an actual in-service fire appliance until I read about it! I thought it was a hen party limo.

The powers-that-be should not forget, that first and foremost, these are firefighting vehicles. And do these campaigns really do any good? I'm somewhat sceptical that they do. I mean, is a blue fire engine really going to urge the good men of Hull to get their prostates checked out? I doubt it very much!!!

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 11 March 2015.

If this was behind me I would not know what it was , confusing for the public IMHO.

Added by Craigw on 12 March 2015.

Well I'm so pleased others have commented first on this 'thing'...those of you who know me personally will be aware that my son was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died 8 years ago last month...come on CFO Sanders ......what on earth does a blue fire engine do for cancer awareness ?.....as Andy says..donate the cost of the paint job to 'men united' if neccesssary....but don't go down this line....... fire engines should be red...paint the whole fleet of officers cars blue with the logo on them if you want...but not appliances !....I saw this on the Humber bridge on Tuesday...if I had'nt seen this post previously..I would not have given it a second glance....but at least the CFO 'scored points' with the minister visiting the brigade the previous week !

Added by Rick Loudon on 12 March 2015.

If this was behind me showing blues and sounding a siren I'd move over just as I would for any other vehicle showing the same things.

Added by Andrew Wright on 14 March 2015.

I'm amazed that this sort of thing is being allowed today when back in the late 1960's/early 70's several brigades in the UK tried out various liveries such as yellow/day-glow pink/orange even white for better visibility during the day time, and after dark.It was though decided by Government after just a few years that red should be the colour used for fire engines and from around 1972/73 brigades went back to the original red livery, except of course the odd appliance, and especially ET's/CIU's and other special appliances.
By all means colour an old vehicle for a special cause to raise awareness, but in these days of cut backs, should an operational appliance be on the streets under blues & two's ?????.

Added by Pete Matten on 15 March 2015.

And let us not also forget the appliances that have been in the past painted pink by brigades for the gay community too folks.

Added by John Johnstone on 16 March 2015.

Not sure I know about those, John! Anyway, there's a saying that has become somewhat of an amusing cliché, but I think it has never been more apt: it's political correctness gone mad!

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 18 March 2015.

I see a bus company in Kent are using the same 'initiative'..see pic 38408...or are Humberside going into 'coach recovery'...I rest my case !

Added by Rick Loudon on 19 March 2015.

Get to grips, so you're telling me that you wouldn't know it was an emergency vehicle??? Conspicuity has progressed somewhat in recent years as have LED's, might I suggest that if you don't recognise it on blues, you may want to hand your licence in?....
As far as financing the project I believe that was done by the partner organisation
What about all of the polices cars that are silver/red/blue etc, we all still recognise them don't we?
The concept is this... fire engines are iconic, everyone looks at them so why not occasionally use one to promote and raise awareness for something that might just save someone's life?


Added by Glenn Ramsden on 20 March 2015.

Thats the point Glenn...on 'Blues' it will be conspicuous..in its non emergency role..its 'just another blue lorry'...WTF is a 'partner organisation'?....I don't recall seeing a red police car? but on blues drivers give way ..usually !

Added by Rick Loudon on 25 March 2015.

Yes Glen, you are right. By now I am so used to yellow or white ambulances, or red, blue or silver police cars, that my simple mind no longer has an issue with them. And thankfully my limited driving skills are just enough to enable the safe passage of said vehicles. But this is THE FIRST blue fire engine that I, for one, have ever seen in this country. And wether it saves a life or not, it doesn't look like a fire engine, and that's the point that many of us are trying to make. Obviously it must look a lot more like the sort of fire engine we are all used to when viewed through rose-tinted specs, but sadly rose-tinted specs are rarely issued in the real world. But I do feel that if people are claiming that they find it somewhat confusing, then I tend to believe they are telling the truth. We can't all be superhuman.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 25 March 2015.

The marketing and publicity teams at Breast Cancer UK and Men United Prostate Cancer UK must be rubbing their hand in delight. The fact we are discussing the rights and wrongs of 'Lily Pink' and 'Billy Blue' surely means the objective of these paint jobs has been met, i.e. maximum publicity for the respective charities? What better way to get maximum exposure on the street than having your message carried on a high-profile vehicle that grabs the public's attention, can make a lot of noise, and be brightly lit.

The fire service in the UK has until relatively recently, generally been very traditional. The traditional service that many of us knew has changed dramatically with huge emphasis now on pro-active education and awareness. Fire has the potential to kill and so does breast cancer and prostate cancer. Are there therefore not similarities in what Breast Cancer UK, Men United, and the Fire Service are trying to achieve in terms of education and awareness? Why shouldn't we help fellow helpers?

The ongoing debate over the reduction in aerial appliances also has parallels in this discussion. For decades we have used the argument that if a TL saved one life in its lifetime, it was worth having. Surely we can use the same traditional argument today when it comes to appliances repainted for a specific purpose ... "if they save one life, it has been worth it"?

The 'brigades' running these repaints also score from being seen to be progressive, thoughtful, public spirited, novel thinking organisations ... and that can't be bad when you are trying to get your own message across?

As for not being able to recognise them as fire appliances under blues and twos ... what?

Added by Keith Richardson on 26 March 2015.

Without wanting to 'prempt'anything on this discussion...as Glenn correctly says...'when 'on Blues' (how apt for this topic)it should not be too difficult to recognise this as an emergency vehicle responding to an incident ...but, as a vehicle just going about its routine buisnness of CFS/Hydrants/ 11d's etc it just blends into the general hubbub of urban traffic in my opinion and no one would give it a second glance...interesting to see an insurance claim from a third party though ? 'I did'nt think it was a fire engine, , it was blue' ! Please remember from my first comment though I have a VERY personal interest in this topic !

Added by Rick Loudon on 26 March 2015.

What is the policy in Humberside regarding blue lights at a job? In Lancs only the control appliance shows blue lights except for RTCs.

Added by Neal Glover on 27 March 2015.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Very interesting, Andy, about using a solely illuminated vehicle as a control point at a large incident. Makes sense. But I don't agree with you regarding airport blue light policy. After all, why would all UK airport crash tenders be covered in blue lights if they weren't allowed to use them? And if you watch any video of an emergency landing at a UK airport, even the local authority fire appliances attending are all flashing blue. I know appliances that are local to an airport have a flashing amber stem-light, but this is used as standard when driving airside by all vehicles - as required by civil aviation law. Fire appliances will use the flashing amber after the emergency has been dealt with, when they're navigating the airfield at a more sedate speed than when they arrived. But when there's an emergency, the lights are ALWAYS blue.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 03 April 2015.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Sorry, Andy, but having spent many an hour spotting at East Midlands and Manchester airports, you're talking rubbish. Only last week airport police cruised upto us on the other side of the fence with their blues on, just to give us the once-over. Either I'm imagining it, or you are. No, it couldn't have been me; I was there! And I know what I saw. Watch the huge selection of emergencies at UK airports on YouTube, and tell me that those lights flashing on the crash tenders, local authority pumps and ambulances hurtling down the RUNWAY, no less, aren't blue. Or perhaps I've got glaucoma!

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 07 April 2015.

"The Manual" is and always has stated blue to be turned off at incidents and only left on at the appliance that is the c&c point.
As for airports all moving vehicles must display at least one amber flashing beacon. Airport appliances will use blue airside, when static at the incident the same rule applies, ie one vehicle displays blue as c@c point.

Added by John Stott on 08 April 2015.

Come on please....lets get back on track...this was about a lurid blue fire appliance. ..until it was sidetracked to one about blue lights!

Added by RickLoudon on 08 April 2015.

Is it really painted? To me it looks like tape! AND, look on pictures from USA! All red ? Nope!

Added by Anders Fallström on 23 February 2017.

As Anders points out, here in the US fire, EMS and police use all kinds of different liveries. At any kind of incident where units from several volunteer fire companies are working together ("mutual aid") it is not uncommon to see six or more vehicles, all with different liveries and different red, white, blue, yellow and even green flashing lights. In some towns with several volunteer companies, each one takes pride in having its own distinctive livery!

But I have never heard any complaints about other drivers not yielding to any of them.

That said, I completely agree that in a country where red is the universal paint scheme, it is only confusing and dangerous to paint fire appliances in other colors. And covering them with advertising is just another distraction. I too am convinced it does nothing to help prevent or cure anything!

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 February 2017.

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