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
Ed Saliba Jr.
1st Assistant Chief
City of New Kensington Bureau of Fire
I.S.O. Class 4 Department