The Crowthers: A Scottsdale firefighting family

Apr. 3—Brandon Crowther is the kind of person who will apologize for being late, even though he's been putting out a fire.

Literally.

While many of us use that phrase figuratively, Crowther's fire truck was first on the scene just before noon March 22 after reports of smoke pouring from a Windsor Avenue home, near 68th Street and East Thomas Road.

Crowther is part of the crew at Scottsdale Fire Station 602 on Indian School Road near Old Town. They were finishing a call that turned out to be a false alarm when the house fire call went out.

Any fire call is a huge deal for firefighters — who here, as in most cities, have some 90% of their calls for medical emergencies. But this one was extra-special for Crowther, as it was his first time commanding a fire response.

To put the cherry on top, one of the firefighters under his command was Capt. Bill Crowther — Brandon's father.

Yet another Crowther is a Scottsdale firefighter: After being recruited by his younger brother, Logan Crowther joined SFD in 2021.

For Bill Crowther, after the fire was put down, it was another moment to grin in pride over Brandon, who recently was named SFD's Firefighter of the Year for 2022.

The father said he wasn't really surprised, after hearing stories over the last few years.

"I've been a fireman for almost 33 years, so there's a lot of guys I've worked with in Scottsdale for a long, long time," Bill said. "I hear all the time, 'I worked with your kid, he's doing a great job — he's a great kid.'"

The smell of charred wood was still powerful when Brandon emerged from the Windsor Avenue home.

After profusely apologizing for not meeting a reporter as scheduled at the fire station, Brandon explained the plan of attack he put together as his engine raced to the scene an hour before, when smoke was funneling from the home.

Instructing firefighter Kevin Hubbard, who two weeks before was promoted to engineer, to "pull a line" (meaning, run a hose from the engine's water supply to the home), Brandon checked the perimeter and back of the home, watchful for a dog or other pet.

He then used "irons" — an ax and halligan prying bar — to force open the front door. "When I got the door open, smoke came pouring out — it was knee high," he said.

Calling out repeatedly to make sure no one was inside as he led his team, Crowther searched other rooms while Jasmine Powell entered the kitchen.

"She opened the refrigerator door — and fire shot out," Brandon said.

While Powell and Brandon doused the kitchen fire, Capt. Brian Shedlock used a pike hole to punch holes through the ceiling, quickly finding another fire in the attic. Firefighters inside sprayed water up into the attic as Brandon directed a team of four Tempe firefighters to the room, where they cut large "vent holes."

A third team showed up — led by Capt. Bill Crowther.

The father was tracking the call over the radio, so he knew Brandon was, as part of his training to become a captain, the on-scene commander.

"He's the guy in charge," Bill said.

Bill's first task, once he led his team into the house, was to check in with the commander.

"A lot of times you can't see or hear very well, so you have to do a face to face," Bill said. "I went in and grabbed him and said 'Brandon, what do you need?' It wasn't like father-son..."

Bill paused, his voice catching.

"He's getting emotional," Vicki, Bill's wife, said.

After collecting himself, Bill resumed the narrative. Inside the burning house, he said, "There really wasn't any emotion — he could've been Bob or anybody from another truck.

"You don't think about it until after."

A few days after the fire, Bill was still marveling at the coincidences of that day. Bill's fire station is far north of Brandon's, so he rarely is on the same scene as his sons (Logan works from a third station).

But after Bill's crew transported a patient to HonorHealth Osborn Medical Center, they heard the fire call and responded to Windsor Avenue.

And so, this captain with three decades of experience found himself under his youngest son's command.

"So many pieces needed to be in place for that to happen," the elder Crowther said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

'Two different animals'

What turned out to be relatively small fires in the Windsor Avenue house were quickly extinguished, with no injuries and limited damage.

Moments after leading the adrenaline-fueled fire response, Brandon looked as relaxed as if he was on break at an office job — which is where he pictured himself a decade ago.

After graduating from Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Brandon planned to go to college and land a white-collar career.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a fireman," he said, with a sheepish grin. "Then, I started college to be an engineer — a civil engineer."

But, after a few years of college and an internship, he decided engineering of that kind wasn't what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

He started thinking about his father's job and, after going on a few ride-alongs, was hooked by the energy and excitement of the job.

When Vicki heard of Brandon's plans, "I was shocked," she said. "Brandon got a full-ride academic scholarship. He chose to do the fire service instead ... But I didn't try to talk him out of it. I was happy with what he wanted to do."

Bill added, "I was surprised as well. My boys, they're three years apart. Logan was 2 when I started (as a firefighter) — they had never seen me do anything else but being a firefighter. A lot of guys I work with know them from visiting the fire station as kids."

The father thought for a moment, turning to his wife. "I don't recall them ever saying they wanted to be a fireman?"

"And they never showed any interest in it," Vicki said.

Then Brandon, halfway into college, stunned Bill: "He said, 'Dad, I think I want to be a fireman.' I told him I'd help him any way I can, but he's going to have to earn it."

Indeed, like anyone else, Brandon had to first pass a written test, usually offered only once a year.

The first time he took it, he bombed.

"He didn't study," Vicki said with a rare frown.

"The next time (the test) came around," Bill recalled, "out of a couple thousand people, I think he was in the top 10."

"He was top two," Vicki amended.

Brandon next passed a physical test and went through a series of interviews, finally receiving an offer from Scottsdale Fire. After a stint in the U.S. Army, older brother Logan went through the same process, again surprising the father.

"They're two different animals," Bill Crowther said. "And they've both done so well. Logan got a pretty big award (the Brett Tarver Award) in his fire academy ... And Brandon getting this award now."

When she heard her youngest was named Firefighter of the Year, "I was not shocked in the least bit," Vicki said. "He's just so dialed in. He takes his reputation so seriously, he's on top of everything. And he criticizes everything."

The father agreed: "Brandon's really hard on himself. We speak often about how he needs to simmer down a little bit."

Like his work calling his first house fire. "Everyone said afterward he did a good job," Bill said. "I thought he did a great job ... But Brandon's always his own worst critic. He picked it apart afterward, 'I should have done this, I should have done that.'"

Bill doesn't like to brag, so his wife pointed out that seven years before Scottsdale launched its own fire department, Bill received the Rural/Metro Firefighter of the Year for Scottsdale in May 1998.

'Above and beyond'

Standing a little over 6 feet tall, Brandon has the look of a light heavyweight boxer. His flowing, dark hair slicked back, he speaks softly when not yelling commands.

Talking about being named Firefighter of the Year makes him blush and deflect. "The last few months have been a blur," he said.

"My captain, Daniel Espinoza, wrote a nice letter nominating me."

In presenting the award to Brandon, the department praised "his dedication to the EMS and medic precepting program. He is also active in the training and wellness teams working with new recruits to give them the best opportunity for success."

The awards ceremony was held at the end of 2022.

"Our motto is 'We Care for You.' That is our baseline," said Fire Chief Tom Shannon. "These individuals go above and beyond to exceed this expectation to meet the needs of our community."

Others awarded included:

—Officer of the Year — Capt. Brian Dutcher, "for his untiring commitment to the physical and mental wellness of the department."

—Meritorious Service — Engineer Joseph Jesatko, who, though off duty, responded to a house fire and rescued a woman in a wheelchair trapped inside.

—Eddie Loggins Career Achievement Award — Capt. Jeff Abts, who retired after 44 years of service, which saw his progression from dispatcher to firefighter, engineer and finally captain.

Apple doesn't fall far

At 31, Brandon is prepping to take the captain's test, setting himself up for a long career as a Scottsdale firefighter.

"This'll be what I do," he said with a grin, as he watched his fellow firefighters douse themselves and store gear on their engines after the fire. "I've had some jobs that were a lot harder and paid less — manual labor, landscaping.

"I'm very grateful, very blessed."

The word around the department about Brandon?

The apple didn't fall far from the tree, according to Capt. Dave Folio.

"He is very well liked and respected," Folio said. "I have known his dad for over 25 years. Brandon is the same exact way. He has great integrity, character and work ethic."

Brandon's mother agreed: "He's got an outstanding work ethic."

And is he as modest as he seems?

"Yes," Brandon's mom exclaimed.

"Just like his father."