Parades and shades of fire trucks

A cheeky turf war erupted during the annual Fourth of July parades in Bonduel and Gillett, and I’m curious where you stand.

Are you team red, yellow or black fire truck?

Those two parades have always been lively, turn-your-back-at-your own risk affairs.

Grown men fire squirt guns from slow moving floats with admirable glee. Cheese sticks fly, ice pops rain and candy mounds up like snow in January.

It’s a raucous, sugar-fueled, free-for-all.

Right in the thick of it all roll the fire trucks, honking in response to the universal arm gesture kids make when they see them coming, waving, chucking candy, and collecting money for their fill-the-boot charity campaigns.

I took a picture of the Navarino Fire Engine as it moved past because my granddaughter Margo had asked about yellow fire trucks. Appleton used to have a fleet of yellow fire trucks, but they have since all gone back to red.

The thought back then was that yellow was easier to see, especially at night.

I thought all fire trucks were either red or yellow.

Then, the Gillett Fire Department showed up with its new, black and chrome fleet.

The town of Underhill Department had something to say about that.

A sign hung from both sides of its tanker.

“Real fire trucks are red.”

So, what say you?

If your ducking reflexes are sound, I invite you to come to the Bonduel and Gillett Fourth of July Parades next year.

They’re a great slice of Americana and where else can you see fire trucks throw shade?