Unique and unique colored Apparatus

[OPEN CAB MACK]

   

North Apollo, Armstrong County, PA  Purple Engine 2.  1984 Pierce Dash  1,000 gpm/500 gwt.

 

This was part of "Rainbow Controll", the forefront of the 911 centers.  In southwestern PA in the northern part of Westmoreland County and southern Armstrong County there were 18 fire departments that were dispatched by Rainbow Controll from the basement of Vandergrift No. 1 fire station.  This was started by Vandergrift Councilman Joe O'Brien.  It took 5 years to get all these municipalities to form 1 dispatching center.  On January 2, 1962, Rainbow Control went on the air and this led into todays 911 centers across the country.  Rainbow Control went off the air in 1989, and all the municipalities in Armstrong & Westmoreland Counties switched to tehir respective county 911 centers.   Each department was given a color and that is how they were dispatched.  Most, painted their rigs to match the color they were assigned.

 

Vandergrift No. 1 Westmoreland Co.-Brown

Vandergrift No. 2 Westmoreland Co.-Red

East Vandergrift West. Co. -Blue

Oklahoma West. Co. - Yellow

Hyde Park, West. Co. - White

West Leechburg, West. Co. - Tan

Washington Twp.West. Co. - Silver

Markle West. Co. - Gray

Allegheny Twp. West. Co. - Orange

Apollo No. 2 Armstrong Co. - Pink

Apollo No. 3 Armstrong Co. - Pink

North Apollo Armstrong Co. - Purple

Parks Twp. Armstrong Co. - Green

Freeport, Armstrong Co - Burgundy

Kiski Twp. Armstrong Co. - Gold

Leechburg, Armstrong Co. - Maroon

Gilpen Twp. Armstrong Co. - Black

South Buffalo Twp., Armstrong Co. - Copper