You have asked a very interesting question Ras! The helmet colors are basically chosen by departments for preference reasons only. Usually to separate themselves between other departments. For example, black has always been chosen by FDNY, & is tradition. They, like all other departments rely on the Reflexlite, & Scotchlite reflective stickers that are activated by flashlites if needed, & is worn on helmets, & turnout gear. There even is a minimum requirement by fire safety regulation standards for this type of trim. In my former years of being a firefighter, I was required many times to repaint my black, & yellow painted leather helmets due to the paint being subjected to high heat, & abuse, & coming off, stickers, & all! Usually due to the atmosphere that firefighting teams face like; being subjected to thick oily, grimy, black smoke, extreme heat that melts, discolors, & singes anything in its path, black soot, melted dripping roofing tar, filthy water washing over them, wet plaster board falling on to them from overhead, clouds of dust, just to name a few, after a few calls with these types of conditions, the personal turnout gear Nomex/Kevlar bunker pants, & coats, boots, hoods, fire gloves, helmets, SCBA start deteriorating, & the cost to replace this equipment is unbelievable! It's been years since I have purchased any personal firefighting gear, but I remember paying over $1000.00 for a Nomex Aramid short jacket, & bibbed pants manufactured by Globe equipment in 1987! I'd probably pass out if quoted a price on current items of comparable specs!
