Editor’s Opinion Ed Ballam
I read with interest Robert Tutterow’s Keeping It Safe column “I Can’t See You” in this month’s issue.
Without stealing his thunder, it’s about the use of black on turnout gear and apparatus. In a nutshell, he says he doesn’t like it, and I have to agree—I don’t either.
As Robert acknowledges, it’s an emotional issue. Black turnout gear is traditional and looks cool, and blacked-out apparatus is badass. I saw an all-black engine at FDIC International 2022 in Indianapolis in April, and it literally stopped me dead in my tracks. It was gorgeous, and it even had “ghost lettering” like a cop car, which was probably reflective to headlights. It was, without a doubt, a showstopper.
However, it also made me wonder about how visible it was at a scene, day or night—probably not very.
- Robert Tutterow: ‘I Can’t See You’
- What’s Next for Structural Turnout Gear?
- Understanding Turnout Gear
- The Protection Behind Structural Firefighting Turnout Gear
- Turnout Gear Manufacturers Make PPE Tailored for Women
My wife is an art teacher at our local middle school and has been a graphic artist for her 40-year career. While it’s not a subject that comes up often, I know from conversations that black is not a color. Black absorbs all the colors of the visible spectrum and reflects nothing. Black is a shade. My wife says so, and that’s enough for me.
Given that fact, one has to wonder if it makes sense to use black on objects that need to be seen during emergencies when visibility is critical to survival.
People can make the argument that warning and scene lights will provide all the illumination and visibility necessary to keep firefighters and responders safe. Maybe, but personally, I’d rather have a big red truck providing just that much more protection.
Then, there’s the issue of blacked-out apparatus where all the chrome and diamond plate and anything that’s shiny and reflective are treated with black paint or coating. I’ll confess that I think it’s blasphemy to paint a Federal QB2 siren, period. God made them of chrome, and that’s the way it should be—end of story.
However, I understand chrome-delete is a personal choice, and if keeps the firefighters happy and engaged, go for it. That’s not as critical as body color, which ought to be on some range of the color spectrum. It can be anything but black. If you’ve ever been to Pennsylvania, you know fire apparatus can be any color under the sun and that, too, is OK within reason.
Moving on to turnout gear. Black hides dirt. Black absorbs heat. Black is less visible. Black can cost more, too, depending on the manufacturer. Dyeing fabric for the outer shell is a process that obviously adds more to the cost, as much of the fabric used is naturally tan/gold. Some gear manufacturers will say color is not a factor in the cost of gear, which may be true on a price quote, but the cost must be absorbed somewhere because it’s still an extra step.
To me, if I was in a smoke-filled room, or at a crash scene, I’d like to glow bright florescent yellow if possible. I’d want someone to see me if I ever went down in a building in the soot and ash. I’d rather be outfitted in tan or gold than black. If I was staring down the hood of a Ford F150 speeding toward me, I’d rather have even the little more visibility the tan would afford me than the absence of color afforded by black.
Like those who say the warning and scene lights on apparatus provide all the protection they need, there are those who say the reflective lettering and striping on PPE provide sufficient reflective visibility and the protection they need.
Probably true for them, but I’d rather have my whole body—I am a big guy—reflecting some sort of light spectrum to fellow firefighters and inattentive motorists, thank you very much. The natural tan/gold fabric color is OK with me.
There is a lot of objective and subjective information on the topic of black gear and apparatus. Google it and you’ll see. Like with most debatable topics, both sides can point to scientific facts and expert opinions to bolster their arguments.
To me, I’m going to take the side that makes me as visible as possible because I’d rather be seen at a scene than viewed in a box.
