This installment comes to us from Bill Freidrich, who has been documenting fire department history for years. Over time, eight fire departments within Dekalb County and MABAS Division 6 have operated at least one non-red fire apparatus or rescue vehicle.
One such example can be found with the Cortland Fire Department. Their lone non-red vehicle was this 1977/1982 Chevy/Horton Type I ambulance, affectionately known as Rescue 1751. This particular rig stood out among the rest of the department's fleet due to its unique color scheme.
Another standout was the Dekalb Fire Department’s Ward LaFrance/Hi-Ranger Snorkel, which sported a bright lime yellow and white livery. Built in 1975, it was the only non-red piece of equipment in their inventory. Eventually, this impressive 85-foot snorkel was sold to the Shabbona Fire Protection District, where it underwent a repaint into white-over-red colors.
Speaking of the Shabbona Fire Protection District, they too had a single non-red unit in their lineup. Known as Rescue 2516, this 1975 Chevy Step-Van served as their sole non-red vehicle during its service life.
In Malta, Illinois, the local Fire Protection District also maintained a unique non-red asset. Rescue 4 was a 1965 Dodge/Boyer mini-pumper equipped with a robust 250-GPM pump and carrying 300 gallons of water. Its distinct appearance made it easily recognizable among the district’s otherwise standard red vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Maple Park Fire Protection District owned a 1985 Mack MC chassis tanker named Tanker 1102. This particular rig originally served as an Alexis demonstrator/show truck before finding a permanent home with Maple Park. Standing out with its blue-and-white color scheme, Tanker 1102 became the sole non-red unit in the district.
At Genoa-Kingston FPD, the past is remembered fondly through their varied color schemes. Early units like Engine 78, a 1978 Pierce build on a Ford C-8000 chassis, were painted in striking orange tones. This model featured a 750-GPM pump, 750 gallons of water capacity, and a 45-foot Aerial-ETT—a pioneering aerial ladder design by Pierce.
Kirkland FPD once operated entirely in white, a stark contrast to today’s predominantly red fleet. Their 1961 GMC-Howe front-mounted pumper tanker, Tanker 2, exemplifies this earlier era when white vehicles were the norm.
Lastly, the Waterman FPD maintains a mostly red fleet but features one notable exception: Rescue 1251. Constructed in 1986 by McCoy-Miller on a Ford F-800 chassis, this rescue squad stands out as the sole non-red unit in their inventory.
As these stories illustrate, while most fire departments adhere to tradition by painting their vehicles red, there have always been exceptions. These unique pieces of equipment serve not only functional purposes but also add character and history to each department’s legacy.
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