Because red was the most expensive color of paint, volunteers used red to make their fire trucks stand out as a source of pride. ... Another theory holds that fire trucks were painted red to make them stand out from all the other vehicles on the road.

What color are fire engines?

Red may be the traditional color of fire engines, but human factors and ergonomics research finds that lime-yellow fire vehicles are less likely to be involved in accidents.

When did fire trucks become red?

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.