The news is in: Wasatch Fire District engineer Kody Anderson and his captain, Doyle Graham, are getting a divorce. “I always tell our new guys that the captain is the father, the mother is the engineer and then we have our children. The captain is ultimately the disciplinarian. The engineer is the one who moderates the children with the father,” Anderson said. “It’s a funny way of describing it, but to me, that’s what it is: a flipping married couple that spends every waking minute together.” On Monday afternoon, the six-year metaphorical marriage came to an end when Doyle retired after a 34-year firefighting career. For Anderson, it was a bittersweet breakup. Anderson commutes two hours from Sanpete County every day, meaning there’s a low chance of him running into Doyle, who lives in Wallsburg, on his days off. The pair is planning a camping trip with their families to catch up. Anderson said Doyle is a “proud papa” of his “kids” on the crew, even if they love to pull his leg. In one of many pranks, the firefighters on Graham’s crew placed a camera outside of his bedroom and told him he was being monitored by higher-ups. “He handled it like a pro. He would always joke with us until it got to a certain point where maybe he was uncomfortable. And then he’d pretend to get a phone call, and off he’d go,” Anderson said.  Anderson painted Doyle as a very outgoing person. “I always tease him that I’m going to put a bell on him,” he laughed. “We’ll go to the grocery store, and I’ll turn around, and I’m like, ‘Where the hell is Doyle now?’ And he’s talking to somebody, anybody.” Despite Doyle’s outgoing nature, he acted humbly when asked about his career, insisting that his peers who said nice things about him were “liars.” Doyle started firefighting as part of a volunteer force in Wallsburg in 1992. The force operated out of what is now Station 55, but was a separate entity from the Wasatch Fire District at the time.  After obtaining his EMT certification, Doyle shifted his volunteerism to the Fire District around 2000.  He joined just in time for the 2002 Olympics, which gave him the chance to meet people from across the world during medical shifts at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. He only responded to a few minor incidents. What stuck with him most was the happiness of the crowd. Doyle went full-time with the Fire District in 2008. His wife, Tammy, was the first emergency responder in the family, getting certified as an EMT almost 40 years ago. Since 2021, Tammy has taught EMT classes at Wasatch High School in partnership with the Fire District and Mountainland Technical College. Wasatch Fire District Capt. Doyle Graham’s cake at his retirement party on Monday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordWasatch Fire District Capt. Doyle Graham speaks with family and friends Monday as he is honored for his 34 years of service at his retirement event. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Like Doyle, Tammy became an emergency responder because Wallsburg did not have its own medical or fire emergency response systems in place, meaning residents would have to wait for county emergency responders to drive 12 miles from Heber City to arrive on the scene. She didn’t initially have a passion for the medical field, but she grew to love being an EMT because it allowed her to help people. That’s the same reason the couple’s son, Toby, followed in his parents’ footsteps, joining the Fire District as a firefighter and EMT eight years ago. “He followed in this line, against our better wishes,” Doyle said. “It’s a hard career. You can make more money on the outside, sleep in your own bed at night and be home for Christmas. … This is a hard life, and there are easier ways to make money.” But, Doyle noted, emergency response is “an addiction.” Once you’ve felt the rush of saving someone’s life, it’s hard to quit.  “At a moment’s notice, you’re getting dressed, going to a fire. You’re going to somebody’s worst day,” he said. “To be able to help them and to make it better for them is awesome.” Anderson said Doyle acts like a cheeky grandfather with any kid he comes in contact with, a demeanor that comes in handy on calls involving children.  Battalion Chief Ben Fitzgerald, who has worked with Doyle for 26 years, backed up that claim. His three daughters, now in their 20s, adore him. Although the Fire District is very much a family, Doyle understood that each staff member’s actual family was their number one priority. Assistant Chief Jason Provost said, “When my kids were growing up, he was the one who was saying, ‘Go spend time with your kids. Go enjoy.’ I appreciated that perspective from him.” Now that he’s no longer putting in the grueling 48-hour shifts every week, Doyle has no idea what to do with his time other than spend it with family. It’ll be a brand new adventure — as he put it, he’s “never retired before.” Chief Eric Hales noted that Doyle is unique for how long he served the community. In Hales’ experience, most firefighters retire after about 20 to 25 years.  “This is a young person’s game, especially to be on the line,” he said. “These people who have been involved in responding to calls for 30-plus years are something special.” Doyle is not the only seasoned firefighter retiring this year.  Wasatch Fire District Captain Doyle Graham is presented with an honorary statue from the Fire District by Battalion Chief Ben Fitzgerald. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Capt. Verl “Rick” Mecham retired earlier this month. Fitzgerald will be retiring in June. Capt. Jed Olsen, who has been with the Fire District for 15 years, will also be retiring in the next few months.  Doyle and Mecham were two of the first six firefighters promoted to captain when the Fire District transitioned from a part- to full-time service in 2000. “We knew that (from) 2020 to 2030, we were going to lose the original six full-timers. We’re only down to one or two left,” Hales said. When Hales, a Park City resident, joined the Fire District six years ago, Doyle gave him an introductory ambulance tour of the county. Hales came to understand the unique needs not only of Heber City and Midway, but also of smaller municipalities like Independence and Interlaken.  “What’s happening this year, unfortunately, with Wasatch Fire, is we’re losing a great deal of our history and our institutional knowledge of the area, of what it’s been and where we’ve been,” Hales said. “(Doyle) helped bridge that gap of keeping the culture and community base for all these new folks coming in.” With the county’s rapid growth, the Fire District’s needs are constantly evolving.  When Hales started six years ago, there were nine firefighters working on a given day. That number has now jumped to 21 and will increase again on Monday, when 13 recruits will be added to the force.  This year’s growth in the force will be accompanied by the construction of a new station in Hideout. Doyle isn’t too worried about how the Fire District will adapt without him. “All of our guys are good, hard workers. Strong. Smart,” he said. “The county’s in good hands.” The post Retirement of old guard leaves Wasatch Fire District in a season of change appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less