Grandma the Firefighter

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This is the true story of James and Thelma Lovell, my late grandparents, that lived in Kanaraville, Utah (a small town Between Cedar City and Saint George, near Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park).

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_7d9hMh2R0/UhplOGbKbtI/AAAAAAAAFOI/7_SZqXxnLXU/s1600/Kanarraville+UT+1b+fire+department+2009+WBlog.jpg

Grandma was a firefighter woman
For most of the 1960s--
When she was already in her sixties
You see, around about 1961
A brush fire almost burned down	
Kanarraville—that little Utah farming town.

The men farmed or worked outside of town,
And there were no firehouses very near.
So the postmistress said “Sisters, volunteer!”
Housewives and mothers heard the call,
About 20 or so ladies in all
Were trained to put those fires down.

My grandparents ran the Ranch Café--
(Famous for their sourdough biscuits)
A classic mom-and-pop business.
When the old fire engine sputtered by,
Thelma would stop making pumpkin pie,
Toss her apron, and be on her way.

An all-women’s volunteer fire department
Was really unique--quite the novelty.
Papers mentioned them around the country.
Nothing could keep those old ladies down,
Except the expansion of the town;
Which eventually had a paid fire department.

Yes, the old gals put out their last fire.
The Ranch Café is gone, and so are they,
But those firefighters are remembered today.
I can still imagine Grandma then,
Riding on that obsolete fire engine,
In her fireman’s hat and waitress attire.

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