Fire Engines Photos

Yellow is increasingly becoming the second color on fire appliances in several European countries, as it is arguably move visible than white. Personally, I think it is pretty ugly. This Scania low profile cab is relatively new, motivated I believe by the firm's close association with Bronto Skylift in neighboring Finland.

Added by Rob Johnson on 29 June 2020.

Manchester City Had yellow booms on at least 1 HP.

Ed: see




Added by Neal Glover on 29 June 2020.

Looks like a construction crane !

Added by CraigW on 30 June 2020.

also see picture 41583 for Sussex examples of yellow booms from decades ago.



Added by Petros on 30 June 2020.

This Scania cab can be delivered with TWO extra seats on the set back engine cover, to accommodate four in the front. This does not seem to be feasible on the lower roof version, however, unless the occupants on these center seats are very short indeed! But perhaps a useful idea for tankers, rescues and some other specials where a taller roofline is not a problem....

Added by Rob Johnson on 30 June 2020.

Simply for visibility reasons. The ladder set will be easier to see in smoke and low light conditions. I agree that the front bumper and wheel arches are a step too far.

Added by Kyle on 20 July 2020.

Kyle: A reversal of a recent trend, when both Magirus and Metz were finishing their ladder sets in dark grey or black...

Added by Rob Johnson on 21 July 2020.

Here in the US, Pierce will supply your ladder in any color you like, but I am told yellow is not a popular choice! Apparently plain unpainted aluminium is the favorite for ladders (especially as it costs less) closely followed by red or white. Dark grey is also becoming a newly "fashionable" color.

Seemingly Pierce has delivered at least one ladder in metallic gold paint - but would not say which fire department (or which country) bought it!

Added by Rob Johnson on 07 September 2020.

A few Brontos with yellow booms have been delivered recently in France. Yellow lockers have been also installed on pump and rescue trucks in some SDIS fleets in recent years, as well as the rear red and yellow chevron treatment which has become commonplace in the UK.

Added by Rob Johnson on 21 September 2020.

Interesting that at a recent fire one of these new TTLs was called in so that its articulated top section could be used to access a roof for inspection, in the aftermath of a fire. The older design ladder tower ladder (TL51) already on site was unable to be deployed for this task, as the narrow street and gable height of the fire structure precluded the fixed ladder from getting near enough to the affected roof area. It was driven away after a failed effort and replaced in the same position by the new TTL.

This makes me wonder why any urban fire service with narrow side streets like London still buys fixed ladders without the articulated top section...

Added by Rob Johnson on 07 July 2021.

I read an article by a retired LFB senior officer recently, which discussed the pros and cons of the different aerials which LFB had used during his decades of service as a firefighter, driver/operator, leading fireman, riding officer and senior commander. In short, he deeply regretted the loss of more than half of the total operational fleet of aerial trucks during the course of his career, blaming the overly optimistic reliance on 15 metre wheeled escape ladders. He also had no time for aerial platforms, which in his experience had turned out to be too difficult to deploy in many situations as well as being very high maintenance, which meant they were off the run much too often. He concluded that the 32 metre turntable ladder, with an articulated top section and a basket, was the best choice for a city like London. No surprise that many similar European cities have made the same choice!

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 May 2025.

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