Calgary fire department introduces pilot project to use blue lights instead of red along Deerfoot

The Calgary Fire Department's (CFD) red engines might be going a little blue after the City introduced a new pilot project to give the engines' lights a new hue.

"The Calgary Fire Department is pleased to announce the launch of our pilot project featuring the use of blue lights on our fire apparatus, the CFD said in a press release on Thursday, "aimed at bolstering the safety of our first responders and the public during emergency responses."

According to the CFD, research has consistently shown that blue lights significantly enhance visibility in low-light environments, including adverse weather conditions.

The idea for incorporating blue lights into our fleet was originally suggested by a Senior Firefighter within the CFD. The Province of Alberta recently granted approval for a trial period of one year.

"This one-year trial will see blue lights installed in 12 vehicles (11 engines and one rescue vehicle), with reporting protocols in place to track all incidents involving collisions or near misses for fire engines fitted with blue lights. This data will be important in assessing the impact of this initiative on overall safety outcomes."

The 12 vehicles that have been selected by the CFD are engines that respond to a high volume of motor vehicle collisions in high traffic areas, such as along Deerfoot Trail.

Blue lights will only be activated when the fire engine is parked. These lights will be installed on both the front and rear of the engines, enhancing visibility from all angles and alerting motorists to the presence of emergency responders on the road.