Richard Haddad/Roundup

Barbara Gustafson
Standing at the base of the firefighter memorial in front of the museum at Green Valley Park, Barbara Gustafson rubs her hand on the foot of the statue. "We have a tradition about this statue," she explains. "If you rub his left foot, a firefighter somewhere, someplace feels thanked." The museum volunteer has lived in Payson for 18 years and witnessed the devastation of the 1990 Dude fire that took the lives of six firefighters. The statue bears the names of these firefighters and others who lost their lives protecting Rim Country's forests. "I think it is important to remember their service."