When Oakdale firefighters envisioned a replacement for their truck ruined in the September 2004 flood, they saw fire engine red.

What they got was green.

A fire truck? Green? The color makes sense knowing the source: Green Tree, a borough that paints its fire trucks a dark shade of pine green, with gold trim.

The truck was on display last Wednesday in Robinson Park on Clever Road during an annual Parkway West Rotary Club picnic. With help from local Rotary International groups and other donors, Green Tree was able to give the 1985 Seagrave pumper truck to the Oakdale Volunteer Fire Department for a rock-bottom price.

"Even though our trucks have always been red, we'll probably live with it [green] for a couple years," Oakdale Fire Chief Steve Trusnovic said.

"That's what you think," firefighter Jimmy Snatchko responded. "I'm going to Moore's Hardware to get red spray paint tomorrow."

Even though research has shown lime-green would be the safest, most eye-catching color for emergency vehicles, American fire trucks traditionally have been red. But with an estimated $15,000 price tag to repaint the body, Oakdale firefighters will keep the color until they look for a new truck in a few years.

"As long as it can put the fire out, it doesn't matter what color it is," said Oakdale assistant fire chief Jim Williams. "It will help us better protect our town, having two trucks instead of one."

If bought new, the truck would have cost $200,000 to $300,000. But after buying a new truck in November, Green Tree officials sold the 21-year-old pumper to Oakdale for about $6,500, with donors picking up most of the tab. Oakdale paid $1,300.

"We weren't looking to make a profit," Green Tree council President Beth Patterson said.

Green Tree initially considered giving the truck to a fire department affected by Hurricane Katrina. But Green Tree borough Manager Dave Montz contacted his Rotary club, and members decided to help nearby Oakdale, which lost a 1977 Mack pumper truck under 7¹/₂ feet of water during Hurricane Ivan.

"We would've loved to do something for New Orleans, but when you've got something that's arms-length away like Oakdale is, why not help them," Green Tree Mayor Vincent Abbato said.

To pay for the truck, Eddie Grimes, assistant governor of the Green Tree Rotary Club, raised money from his own group, plus the Carnegie, Crafton-Ingram, McKees Rocks and Parkway West clubs, all members of Rotary District 7300.

Mr. Grimes said he also received donations from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Long Term Recovery Task Force, formed after Hurricane Ivan and associated with Christian Associates of Western Pennsylvannia; the Oakdale Masonic Lodge; and the Leonard A. and Mary Jane Schafer Charitable Foundation Trust.

"Charity begins at home," Mr. Grimes said. "If it saves one life or one home or one business, this truck is priceless."

The truck can pump water from hydrants or ponds at 1,500 gallons per minute. It has a 750-gallon water tank and has accumulated about 1,500 miles, or 700 hours.

It will be kept in the Oakdale fire department's garage with a 1996 Pierce pumper truck, a small rescue truck and a medical vehicle. The Mack, which suffered damage to its electrical systems in the flood, probably will be sold to a collector or for parts.