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In Division 10, another noteworthy addition is the Hinsdale Fire Department. This single-station department boasts 26 career firefighters, serving the town of Hinsdale, which spans approximately 4.64 square miles in DuPage County. Their fleet includes two ambulances, three engines, and a tower ladder. What makes Hinsdale particularly distinctive in this region is its unique color scheme, which it shares only with Carol Stream, also located in DuPage County. For many years, their fire trucks featured bright yellow bodies with black roofs. While Carol Stream transitioned to a black-over-red color pattern several years ago, Hinsdale continued to maintain its entire fleet of suppression vehicles in the classic black-over-yellow design—until recently.
In 2008, Hinsdale acquired its newest piece of equipment: a Spartan/Rosenbauer/Metz Raptor tower ladder, which came painted in the more traditional black-over-red scheme. Interestingly, there's another department in the area with a similar aerial apparatus—Countryside Fire Protection District in Division 4 (Lake County). Both of these tower ladders sit on short, single-axle chassis, but while Countryside uses an HME chassis with a white roof, Hinsdale’s unit retains its Chicago-style aesthetic.
A notable change is on the horizon for Hinsdale. The iconic black-over-yellow color scheme that once defined their fleet appears to be fading into history. The new Spartan Rosenbauer Metz Raptor tower ladder, seen here, reflects a shift toward a more conventional look. This evolution marks the end of an era for those who cherished the distinctiveness of Hinsdale's apparatus.
Special thanks go to Karl Klotz for generously sharing his photos of the Hinsdale Fire Department, capturing these vehicles before their colors faded further into memory. It's fascinating to see how departments adapt their branding over time, balancing tradition with modernity.
[Additional context: The changing color schemes reflect broader trends in firefighting aesthetics, where departments increasingly adopt standardized designs for better visibility and brand recognition. While some purists lament the loss of unique local styles, others see it as a practical evolution necessary for efficiency and safety in emergency response.]
June 19, 2025