Why are firefighter hats red?
The history of the red firefighter hat spans nearly 280 years. Affecting the way Americans relate to the color red and firefighting, the modern fire hat has become a symbol of safety and American history.Invention of the Firefighter HatThe first firefighter hat, which was designed by Jacobus Turck in the 1730s, was leather with a wide brim. Resembling the firefighter hat used today, Henry T. Gratacap’s invention in 1836 was dome-shaped with a front shield and long tail.The ‘Uniform’ Color of RedIn 1840, the red flannel shirt, which was adopted as the uniform for all firefighters in New York, was spread across the United States as the official color. Thus, red became a universal color in the firefighter’s uniform.The Color Red and FirefightingIn the 1870s, the color red dominated by firefighter hats and uniforms began to work its way into the architecture of the firehouse. Red-brick firehouses become part of the municipal landscape, furthering the red-color theme of firefighting.Red Fir
