Here's a link for the meteor showers for this year. The Leonids are listed as the 17th. Just check on the site for which the maxima is set for. If it's for the USA, then the max for us is probably the 18th.
The orange colour of a meteor isn't unusual. I've seen green ones too. Very much depends on the mineral content, and to extent the entry velocity, of the stuff that's entering the atmosphere. At a star party I was at some 15 year ago we saw a brilliant fireball that seemed to explode regulary as pieces broke off it and were flung off. It was an extraordinary sight.
Mental.