As every red-blooded American knows, fire trucks are supposed to be red. Over the past few decades, though, we've gone through so-called fluorescent yellow, white and various other colors on fire trucks. From the Washington Post:
They are yellow and white and altogether wrong.
At least that's how many Arlington County [VA] firefighters feel about their yellow-and-white firetrucks, which have bucked tradition ever since studies showed that those colors were easier to see -- and therefore safer on the road -- than classic red. Science said one thing, but their hearts said another.
Now, 30 years after the switch to yellow and white, the safety studies have been refuted, and Arlington is bringing back the fire-engine red of Norman Rockwell and so many childhood memories.
Ah, things are going back to how they're supposed to be. The idea, back in the '70s, was that yellow, lime green and other colors were supposedly more visible at night. I mean, they had studies and everything.
But fire safety experts now say there are factors that influence visibility more than color does.
Yeah. Things like, I don't know...maybe lights?
Volunteer fire companies have traditionally gone their own way:
[V]olunteer companies have vehicles painted in different colors, including one that is black with gold trim. Prince William and Loudoun counties are dominated by volunteer companies, and the colors also vary a great deal. "We have red, white, lime green and yellow," Battalion Chief Matt Smolsky said of the Prince William fleet. "There's not one dominant color."
And, in this day of limited government budgets, the best reason for painting fire trucks red?
Red firetrucks are also more valuable, a reflection of their popularity. [Arlington Fire Chief Edward P.] Plaugher implemented a program in 2002 to buy the county's vehicles and then sell them back to the manufacturer for 50 percent of their value after five years. If they're red and white, Plaugher learned, they are worth 15 percent more.
"They cost the same to paint them any color we want, but in the buyback program, they're worth 15 percent more if they are red and white," he said.
I know this is a few weeks behind the time, but we finally made it to Wegmans for the first time since they opened their store here in Sterling, VA (or is it Dulles? The boundary lines are a bit vague). And all I have to say is...
Oh, my!
Kevin gave some initial feedback from opening day, but fortunately the furor has subsided a bit in the intervening month. At any rate, that place is amazing.
I couldn't resist the temptation of the spinach and feta stuffed flank steak. The grill will be ready in about 10 minutes. Yum!
