Another addition to Division 10 is the Hinsdale Fire Department. This single-station department employs 26 career firefighters who serve the town of Hinsdale, a small community covering approximately 4.64 square miles in DuPage County. The department operates two ambulances, three fire engines, and a tower ladder, providing essential emergency services to residents. What sets Hinsdale apart is its distinctive color scheme—bright yellow with black roofs—which was once shared only by Carol Stream, another DuPage County department. While Carol Stream has since transitioned to a black-over-red scheme, Hinsdale maintained its classic look for many years. However, that changed in 2008 when they introduced their newest apparatus: a Spartan/Rosenbauer/Metz Raptor tower ladder painted in a black-over-red scheme. This marked a shift from their traditional style, though it’s not the first time the department has experimented with new designs.
Interestingly, Hinsdale isn’t the only department in the area with this type of aerial unit. The Countryside Fire Protection District, located in Division 4 (Lake County), also operates a similar tower ladder. While both units are mounted on short, single-axle chassis, the Countryside unit features an HME chassis and a white roof, making it visually distinct from Hinsdale’s version.
This color scheme is unique to the area but does not appear to be around for too much longer.
The newest unit arrived with a traditional 'Chicago-style' paint scheme.
Thanks to Karl Klotz for providing all of the Hinsdale images.
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