Page 47 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Summer 2022 - Online Magazine

FIRST RESPONDERS

18, to showcase wildland firefighting
as something they could pursue as
a career option. We also conducted
leadership discussions within the staff
of Sisters in Fire about the unique
challenges that women in a male-
dominated field face. Additionally,
we honored fallen, female wildland
firefighters with bracelets that the staff
will wear for the coming year.”

The staff of Sisters in Fire received an
award from the Director of the Texas
A&M Forest Service for Excellence in
Team Effort.

The headway Paige has made in the
profession of firefighting has definitely
paved the way for other women who
have similar goals and
interests.
firefighters, getting to see firsthand how much
good they do and the many hats they wear.” Paige has been a First
Responder in the South
Besides fighting local fires along with them, it Plains for six and a half
was a satisfying undertaking to help them get years. Due to a non-
grants. work-related injury,
she has left the Texas
One of her most enjoyable accomplishments A&M Forest Service but
while Regional Fire Coordinator was hosting, plans to stay within the
with Wolfforth, an event called Smokey Backs Emergency Management
the VFDs. It was a celebration of Smokey field.
the Bear’s 75th birthday and a way for local
volunteer fire departments to interface with the She and her husband,
public. There was live music, great food, bounce John, and their little
houses, dunk tanks, and of course, Smokey the Corgi, Freddie, have
Bear. The intentions were to make it an annual recently moved to
event, but then COVID struck. Hockley County.

Groundbreaking territory for her was the
following: “In November 2020, I made a lateral move
to become Task Force Coordinator of the Caprock Task
Force that I had joined four years earlier. I am the first
women in Texas A&M Forest Service history to hold this
position. I had seven firefighters who worked under me, Medicare Supplements
and I oversaw their training and was responsible for a
large fleet of equipment. This fleet included dozers and
the transports that carry them—as well as fire engines, David B. Lewallen
and other smaller equipment for day-to-day use.”
independent agent
In 2020, she was part of a new program called Sisters
in Fire. “This was an event that myself and the other 2815 74th St P.O. Box 53957
woman in leadership within the agency came up with lubbock, texas 79423 lubbock, texas 79453
and executed. It was an all-day event for girls, ages 11 to (806) 792-7510 fax (806) 799-8153

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