How to Draw a Fire Truck: Easy Directed Drawing for Kids

A fire engine with a long ladder on the roof, a flashing light, a side locker for the hoses and two chunky wheels.

This is a directed drawing: you draw one line, your child draws the same line, and the fire truck appears step by step. It works for kids aged about 4 to 8 and takes around 10 minutes. It is a favorite in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms during fire safety week.

Almost every part is a rectangle or a circle, so it is a great first vehicle drawing. The ladder comes last, and kids love it because the rungs are just short straight lines.

Tap "Draw it live" to follow each line on screen, or use the step-by-step pictures below on paper. For a whole class, print the drawing page and go through the steps together.

How to draw a fire truck, step by step

1. 1Draw the big body of the fire engine

   Start with the big body of the fire engine: a long rectangle that fills most of the page from left to right.

2. 2Draw the cab

   Draw the cab on the right end. It is taller than the body, with a flat roof and a front that slopes gently down.

3. 3Draw the front wheel arch

   Draw a half circle, like a rainbow, at the bottom of the cab for the front wheel arch.

4. 4Draw the front bumper

   Add the front bumper: a small rounded rectangle sticking out at the bottom right.

5. 5Draw the rear wheel arch

   Draw the rear wheel arch, another half circle, near the back of the body.

6. 6Draw the rear bumper

   Add the rear bumper, a small rounded rectangle at the bottom left.

7. 7Draw the back wheel

   Draw the back wheel as a circle inside the rear arch.

8. 8Draw the front wheel

   Draw the front wheel as a circle inside the front arch.

9. 9Add the wheel centres

   Put a small circle in the middle of each wheel for the wheel centres.

10. 10Draw the cab window

    Draw the cab window: a rounded square near the top of the cab.

11. 11Add the door handle

    Add a tiny oval under the window for the door handle.

12. 12Draw the equipment locker on the side

    Draw the equipment locker on the side of the body: a big rectangle where the firefighters keep their hoses.

13. 13Draw the ladder rails

    Draw the ladder rails on the roof: two long, thin lines running from the back of the body toward the cab.

14. 14Add the ladder supports

    Add the little posts that hold the ladder up off the roof.

15. 15Add the rungs across the ladder

    Draw the rungs: short straight lines across the ladder, evenly spaced. Count them out loud as you go.

16. 16Draw the flashing light on the roof

    Draw the flashing light on the cab roof, a small dome, and add little lines around it to make it flash.

17. 17Add the front headlight

    Finish with a small headlight on the front of the cab.

Frequently asked questions

What is a fire truck directed drawing?

A directed drawing is a step-by-step lesson where the teacher or grown-up draws one line at a time and the child copies it. With this fire truck, every step is one simple shape, so even young kids end up with a fire truck they are proud of.

Is this fire truck drawing good for a kindergarten class?

Yes. It is built from rectangles and circles, which kindergartners can already draw, and it fits nicely into a fire safety week lesson. Print the step-by-step page for each table, or put the live version on the board and draw together.

What is the difference between a fire truck and a fire engine?

Firefighters say a fire engine carries water and hoses, and a fire truck carries the big ladder. Most kids use both names for the same thing, and this drawing has both a ladder and a hose locker, so either name works.

Can I print this fire truck drawing?

Yes. The free printable pack has a coloring sheet, a step-by-step drawing page and a tracing page.

What colors should I use for a fire truck?

Bright red with a yellow ladder is the classic look. In the drawing tool, tap an area to fill it, then add your signature and save your picture.

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