Yellow fire engine will be white elephant

Plans to introduce yellow fire engines to New Zealand have been scrapped after firefighters opted to retain the traditional red.

The Fire Service's only yellow fire engine, now being used in Hamilton, will remain one of a kind.

A trial of the distinctive colour - called "ACT yellow" because it is used in the Australian Capital Territory - showed that firefighters preferred the "rail red" colour used by other engines, according to the New Zealand Fire Service publication, Star.

In the past six months three different engines, two Dennises and a Scania, were tested in Wellington, Auckland and Wanganui.

Firefighters were asked to select the best parts of each appliance.

Pumps, cabs, locker layout configuration, hardware - and colour - were all assessed.

Their recommendations have been used to design a custom-built engine.

While some firefighters thought the yellow was more visible, most felt that red was better suited to New Zealand conditions.

Operations director Steve Turek said six of the new engines - in red - would be introduced this year, with more over the next three years.

It is the first time the Fire Service has developed a fire engine using firefighters' recommendations.

- NZPA