What a Yellow Fire Hydrant Means in New York

If a New Yorker was asked to describe a fire hydrant, it wouldn't be long before they used the word "red".

Taking a look at children's books, cartoons, or even a picture in your head, fire hydrants have always been one color. The surprising truth is that not only are there several different colors of public hydrants, but they each send a different message to authorities.

The National Fire Protection Association and Fire Hydrants

Most fire hydrant standards, including their color, are set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). While some cities like Poughkeepsie, NY still have red hydrants (above), the current standard hydrant body color is actually "chrome yellow"... and that's just the beginning

Differently-Colored Fire Hydrants in New York State

While most modern fire hydrants now have yellow bodies, their caps can be several different colors. The different hydrant tops are a way to communicate some very important information to local firefighters about the water that the hydrant can deliver.

What the Color of a New York Fire Hydrant Means

According to the NFPA, there are four standard colors for fire hydrant caps: red, orange, green, and blue. A red-capped hydrant has the smallest pipe attachment, while a blue-capped hydrant offers the highest flow of gallons per minute (GPM). Here's how it breaks down:

• Red indicates a water-flow capacity of fewer than 500 GPM
• Orange indicates a water-flow capacity of 500 to 999 GPM.
• Green indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,000 to 1,499 GPM.
• Blue indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,500 or greater GPM.

While these are suggested guidelines, they aren't required by law, and many towns and cities across the country have adopted other colors and color codes (many hydrants in Beacon, NY, for example, have silver-capped hydrants). As far as hydrant body color, the general rule of thumb is that yellow and white hydrants are connected to public water supplies, while red hydrants are connected to a private water source.