This is the ninth installment in our ongoing series exploring *The Color of Fire Trucks*, brought to you once again by Bill Friedrich. This edition focuses on MABAS Division 7, which covers Kankakee County and part of Iroquois County. As always, Bill’s extensive archives provide a fascinating look at the color schemes and equipment that defined these fire departments over the years.
One standout piece from the Essex Fire Protection District is Squad 1974, a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon that was modified for emergency use. It was the only white vehicle in the department’s fleet at the time. This unique rig offers a glimpse into how fire departments adapted their vehicles for service, often with custom modifications.
Moving to Kankakee, we see a different story. The city operated two Mack CF units painted white over lime-green, with white roofs. One of them was Ladder 6, a 1983 Mack CF600 equipped with a 100-foot Pirsch aerial ladder, a 1,250-GPM pump, and 200 gallons of water. These trucks were part of a broader trend in the region, where lime green was a common base color before many departments transitioned to red.
Kankakee Township Fire Department also had a lime-green fleet in its early years. Their 1975 IHC Cargostar 1910, known as Engine 84, was one such example. It featured an Alexis body, a 1,000-GPM pump, and 500 gallons of water. Today, all of their vehicles are painted red, marking a clear shift in department identity and visibility.
Pembroke FPD had a few lime green rigs in its history, but like many others, they eventually moved to red. Their 1972 IHC Loadstar 1800, Engine 139, was built by Central and featured a 500-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. This truck, now retired, was part of a generation of vehicles that helped shape the department's early response capabilities.
Otto Township Fire Protection District also had a lime green era. Their 1986 IHC S1900/Luverne, Engine 38, was equipped with a 750-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. While it has since been repainted, it still serves as a reminder of the colorful past of local fire apparatus.
In Papineau FPD, there’s a single yellow engine that stands out — Engine 1533. This 1981 Pierce Arrow was purchased last year from Glenside FPD in MABAS Division 12. Its bright yellow paint contrasts sharply with the rest of the fleet, which has since gone red.
Bourbonnais FPD once had several yellow rigs, but now all of their vehicles are red. One notable example was Engine 63, a 1976 Hendrickson 1871 built by Howe, featuring a 1,000-GPM pump and 800 gallons of water. This truck was part of a fleet that showcased the variety of colors used in the mid-20th century.
Grant Park Fire Protection District had one unique lime-green rig: Engine 112, a 1963 IHC/Central unit with 1,000 gallons of water and a 1,000-GPM pump. It was the only one of its kind in the district, while everything else remained red.
Chebanse Township FPD in Clifton had two white rigs, including Tanker 2871, a 1994/2001 Peterbilt 379 built by Midstate Tank. It carried 3,000 gallons of water without a pump, highlighting the diversity of tankers used across the region. Most other vehicles in the fleet were painted red.
Salina Township FPD still operates a white tanker, Tanker 164, a 1985 GMC F-7000 chassis with a 2,000-gallon tank. At one point, they also had a white brush truck, but today, everything else is red.
Finally, St. Anne Fire Department had a blue rescue truck, Rescue 10, a 1967 Chevy Step Van. It was later repainted to white and red, reflecting the evolving aesthetics of fire departments over time. Like many others, the department now relies on red for visibility and consistency.
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