By Kim Lawrence
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 P.G. Publishing Co.
If you’re driving through Moon and see blue fire hydrants along the road, don’t worry. There’s nothing wrong with your eyesight.
All 700 fire hydrants in the township will be painted blue to match the color of the township’s fire trucks by next summer.
The hydrants have been red with a white top for as long as anyone can remember, according to John F. Riley, general manager of the Moon Township Municipal Authority.
But those colors seem to fade quickly so when it came time to repaint the hydrants, Mr. Riley asked Fire Chief Charles Belgie Jr. if he had a preference for color. Without hesitation, the chief said “blue.”
So, in tribute to the chief who has been part of the fire department for 60 years, Mr. Riley said all of the hydrants are being painted blue. He said approximately 120 have been repainted so far.
The contractor for the authority paints 60 at a time. The hydrants are being painted district-by-district and there are 30 districts. Reflective strips also will be attached to the hydrants.
Chief Belgie said that the original fire truck was purchased in 1939 and it was red. He said that it wasn’t until 1950 that Moon had its first blue fire truck — by accident.
The truck was being cleaned but the mixture of water and soap was too strong and it stripped the red paint. Chief Belgie said his father, who was chief at the time, decided to repaint the truck blue after he had seen a new Oldsmobile painted that color.
Chief Belgie Jr. became a volunteer fire fighter in 1946. He became chief of the all-volunteer department in 1974. In 1985 he became a township fire official but remained the volunteer chief, elected by the other firefighters.
Today there are 54 firefighters at four stations.
“We can always use more [volunteers],” Belgie said. “Ten years ago we had around 90 members.”