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Doyle Days: Annual Tradition Takes Place Amid Destruction From Beckwourth Complex Fire

KUNR Public Radio | By Lucia Starbuck
Published August 13, 2021 at 9:13 AM PDT
The back of several yellow and red firetrucks are driving in a line down a road. A man in a leather jacket and chaps is on the side of the road watching the trucks go by.
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Firefighters participated in a parade for Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. Smoke filled the air from the Dixie Fire.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
Two kids on quads are driving on a road. There is an adult standing next to each of them, helping them. In the background are charred brick walls and a car with the plastic melted off.
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Kids partook in a parade for the Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. The parade route passed by homes destroyed by the Beckwourth Complex Fire in mid-July.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
A man is driving a burgundy and cream classic car. In the passenger seat is an elderly woman holding a white lace umbrella. Behind them are charred trees.
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This year’s Doyle Days grand marshall, Rose Roberts, participated in the parade for Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021.";
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
A cage is divided into small squares. Within the squares are western fence lizards. They are a sandy brown color with black stripes on their back. One of the lizards is clinging to the chicken wire showing off its bright blue belly.
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Western fence lizards for rent to race during Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. For the lizard race, kids were timed on how quickly they could catch a lizard within a circular enclosure.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
A boy holds a plastic water bottle with the label removed. Inside the bottle is a western fence lizard clinging to the sides. The boy is wearing a mask and facing a circular enclosure where a different lizard is being set on the ground to race.
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A child waited their turn to participate in the lizard race during Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. Children were timed on how quickly they could catch a lizard within the enclosure.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
The camera is peering down into a red Folgers plastic coffee container. Inside the container are three newborn lizards and one adult-sized lizard.
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Henry, age 5, showed off the lizards he caught, one of which he raced during Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. For the lizard race, kids were timed on how quickly they could catch a lizard within a circular enclosure.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio

It’s been a tough year for Doyle, California, located between Reno and Susanville. The small town has lost 50 of its roughly 450 homes in less than a year due to two separate wildfires, but residents recently got a small break from reality while they celebrated an annual tradition called Doyle Days.

It was an overcast day and smoke filled the air from the Dixie Fire. Flag bearers, classic cars, kids on quads and firefighters took part in a short parade through Doyle. They passed by a few of the homes that were destroyed in the Beckwourth Complex Fire last month, but the atmosphere was filled with laughter, hugs and festivities.

“This is a big thing for us,” Denise Roberts said.

Roberts wore a spiral tie-dye shirt that read “Doyle Strong.” In November, Roberts lost her home in the Laura 2 Fire, and last month, her mother’s house was destroyed in the Beckwourth Complex Fire.

“I’m still crying off and on, but there really is nothing you can do but keep going,” Roberts said.

Roberts said Doyle Days is about relaxing and being in the company of neighbors and friends. She sat in a camping chair and watched dozens of kids go down an inflatable waterslide.

“Listen to these kids. ... Would you know that everything around them burned? They’re kids being kids, and enjoying it, and parents getting a break from all the pressure of what’s happened,” Roberts said.

A young boy with a mullet is holding up a red Folgers plastic coffee container. Inside the container is one adult-sized lizard and three newborn lizards.
Credit Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio
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KUNR Public Radio
Henry, age 5, showed off the lizards he caught, one of which he raced during Doyle Days, an annual tradition, in Doyle, Calif., on July 31, 2021. For the lizard race, kids were timed on how quickly they could catch a lizard within a circular enclosure.

Doyle Days has occurred annually since the ’80s. There are vendors, music and the volunteer fire department serves up breakfast and lunch to raise money for the station. Children also take part in a lizard race, and they’re timed on how quickly they can catch a lizard within a circular enclosure.

“This is small-town life, it really is,” Roberts said.

The event was canceled last year, like many others due to the pandemic, making the tradition that much more important this year.

View additional photos of Doyle Days and the lizard race by scrolling through the image slideshow at the top of this story.

Lucia Starbuck is a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Tags
Local Stories CaliforniawildfiresBeckwourth Complex Fire
Lucia Starbuck
Lucia Starbuck is an award-winning political journalist and the host of KUNR’s monthly show Purple Politics Nevada. She is passionate about reporting during election season, attending community events, and talking to people about the issues that matter most to them.
See stories by Lucia Starbuck
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