The Rainbow Fleet

So, all firetrucks are supposed to be red, right? Well, in the US, many volunteer fire companies began during the colonial era as community protection groups. Sadly, in those days, the English were content to let the Irish neighborhoods burn, the Irish feeling the same way about the Germans, the Germans about Italians and so on. Heck, there's even a Polish-American based fire company in a town near where I live! In those days, members wore uniforms or hats to identify their company membership. Over time, as the fire apparatus became mechanized, the companies "colors" were applied to the fire trucks. Since the fire service is steeped in traditions, these days those colorful trucks have become the symbols of their pride and identity, not unlike sports clubs (Man U's Red Devils, NY Yankees pinstripes, etc.,...)