We had a terrible flood in Minnesota and during the flood, when the whole town was under water, several of the downtown buildings caugt fire.  Although many fire trucks from neighboring towns were available, there was no access.  One wise engineer suggested they run the trucks up on a military flatbed and tow it to the fire with an Army 6-by.  The fire was overcome after several days of firefighting.

During the week-long stress of the battle there arose a bigger battle between South Dakota firemen and Minnesota firemen.  It seems the South Dakota guys had neon green fire trucks and the Minnesota guys had red ones, and they didn't want to use the green ones.

The claim from South Dakota was that the neon green was easier to see at night.  They had even changed the color of school warning signs.

The Minnesotans claimed fire engines HAD to be red for the following reason:

1. Total rig length cannot exceed 55 feet in
  length and 8 feet in width.

2. A foot is a ruler.

3. Quieen Elizabeth is a Ruler.

4. Queen Elizabeth is a ship.

5. Ships float on the oceans.

6. There are fish in the oceans.

7. Fish have fins.

8. The Fins fought the Russians.

9. The Russians are Red.

10. That's why fire engines have to be red,
   because they are ALWAYS rushin'.

South Dakota bought the concept and sent all of their neon green trucks to Saudia Arabia. See link.