Dedication and Service Earn Brian Watts Firefighter of the Year Award
Published on October 11, 2025
Firefighter Brian Watts of Rescue 11, recently named Charlotte Firefighter of the Year, stands ready at his firehouse in Charlotte.
When Brian Watts talks about firefighting, he does so with a mixture of humility and quiet determination that makes it clear why he was chosen as Charlotte Fire’s 2025 Firefighter of the Year.
Watts, a member of Rescue Company 11 since January 2024, is quick to downplay his accomplishments. He often frames his contributions as little things or describes his career as still being in its early stages. But to those who serve alongside him, Watts’ impact on Charlotte Fire and on communities well beyond the city limits has been anything but small.
Firefighter Brian Watts of Rescue 11, recently named Charlotte Firefighter of the Year, stands ready at his firehouse in Charlotte.
“Brian’s dedication, versatility, and willingness to step into roles that aren’t always glamorous or obvious have made him an invaluable part of Charlotte Fire,” said Fire Chief Reginald Johnson. “He has consistently demonstrated what it means to put service before self, and this recognition is well deserved.”
Watts, 30, grew up immersed in emergency services. His father worked for Mecklenburg EMS when Watts was a child. His uncle became an assistant fire chief in Gastonia. His cousin pursued firefighting. His brother worked in EMS and fire before becoming a physician assistant.
“I grew up in it, it was pretty much all I ever knew,” Watts said in an interview.
Dressed in turnout gear, Watts pauses outside the bay doors of Rescue 11, reflecting the commitment that earned him the department’s highest honor.
At first, he thought his future might be in aerospace. He considered studying at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, but a high school calculus class convinced him otherwise. Instead, he gravitated toward firefighting, volunteering before finishing high school and eventually earning a degree in fire safety engineering technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. By March 2018, just months after graduation, Watts was officially a Charlotte firefighter.
Watts’ career path has taken him through several assignments, each shaping his development. He began at Engine 30 and spent a brief period at the airport before transferring to Engine 17, where he spent nearly three years. From there, he moved into special operations at Engine 38, drawn into dive rescue almost by happenstance.
“I went on timeout to 38 one evening and listened to the crew talk about a drowning they had been on,” Watts recalled. “I thought it sounded interesting. The next day, I got a call from a chief saying, ‘I heard you’re interested in dive.’ I had only been there one night, but the next transfer I was on 38. It happened that fast.”
Sitting on the bumper of Rescue 11, Watts shows the balance of humility and determination that defines his work.
Despite initial hesitation, the experience proved invaluable. He later joined Engine 11 and, most recently, Rescue 11, where he says he has found his stride.
“I like where I’m at right now the most,” Watts said. “It was always a goal for me to end up on a rescue, because of the type of calls, the extra training, the chance to specialize. We’re always doing something, and that’s what intrigues me.”
What sets Watts apart, colleagues say, is not only his skill on calls but his willingness to take on difficult and complex responsibilities outside of them. Early in his career, Charlotte Fire recognized his talent for emergency management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in helping the department manage the immense logistical and financial challenges of the crisis.
A black-and-white portrait of Watts in front of his firehouse captures the timeless tradition of service that drives him.
Watts was thrust into handling reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses, an intricate, high-stakes process that ensured the department and city were properly compensated for their emergency work.
“That was by far the biggest hurdle I’ve had to cross,” Watts admitted. “There were so many little intricate pieces, and I had to catch up quickly. I didn’t want to make a mistake that could hurt the department. It was stressful, but I learned a lot.”
He continues that work today, now managing reimbursements connected to Charlotte Fire’s deployments with North Carolina Task Force 3, one of the state’s urban search and rescue teams.
Watts’ helmet rests on his gear, its Rescue 11 shield a symbol of his dedication to both his crew and the city he serves.
As a member of Task Force 3, Watts has been deployed to some of the most devastating natural disasters in recent years. He responded to Hurricane Helene, floods in Kentucky, and Hurricane Erin, among others.
His first deployment, to western North Carolina after Tropical Storm Fred, came unexpectedly.
“I had never been on a deployment before,” Watts recalled. “I didn’t even have the right uniform. A chief basically told me to stop by my house on the way and grab what I had. I had no clue what I was doing, but the best way to learn is to be immersed in it.”
Each deployment taught him something new about planning, about logistics, and about the resilience of the communities served.
“You go into places that might be devastated, and your job is to help without adding more stress,” he said. “At the same time, you’re making connections with people across the state. That part is pretty cool.”
Watts in uniform beside Rescue 11, representing the next generation of firefighters carrying Charlotte Fire forward.
Watts’ influence extends into innovation as well. He helped modernize Task Force 3’s check-in process, taking what he described as an antiquated system and bringing it into the digital age.
Now, firefighters heading out on deployments or training complete a streamlined online survey that automatically populates their personal and equipment information. The process, once cumbersome, is now efficient and reliable.
“It was about making sure we had good records and could get out the door quickly when needed,” Watts explained.
Watts also contributes to the department’s long-term vision. He serves on the accreditation committee, helping Charlotte Fire pursue the rigorous standards required for national recognition.
Seated on the bumper of Rescue 11, Watts reflects the pride and professionalism that mark his seven years with Charlotte Fire.
“I’m a very inquisitive person,” he said. “Accreditation gave me a chance to learn more about how the department works — not just operations, but the divisions, the city, everything. It was an opportunity to understand the bigger picture.”
And in yet another role, Watts has become one of Charlotte Fire’s lead drone operators, using technology to enhance response, safety, and situational awareness.
For all his responsibilities, Watts resists taking credit. Asked what he is most proud of, he hesitated. He spoke of small steps, of teamwork, of supporting others. Only after some pressing did he describe his role in modernizing Task Force 3’s deployment process as something meaningful.
In uniform near Rescue 11, Watts embodies the spirit of service and teamwork that earned him Firefighter of the Year recognition.
“Brian doesn’t seek the spotlight,” said Captain Eric Depoto of Rescue 11. “But his enthusiasm, his drive, and his ability to handle complex, behind-the-scenes work are exactly what make him so valuable.”
Watts acknowledges that firefighting comes with emotional challenges, but he tries to focus on moving forward.
“You can’t dwell on the things you see, or it makes it worse,” he said. “You do your job, you help resolve the situation, and then you move on with life.”
Looking 20 years down the road, he hopes his colleagues remember him simply as someone who always worked hard, stayed active, and supported his crew.
Watts on scene during a June 2025 fire on Morehead Street, demonstrating the steady presence his colleagues say defines his work.
“I don’t want to be remembered as someone who just showed up for a paycheck,” he said. “I want to be remembered as someone who helped, who stayed curious, who kept learning, and who made a positive impact on the people around him.”
Chief Johnson said that attitude is precisely why Watts was selected as Firefighter of the Year.
“Brian represents the best of Charlotte Fire,” Johnson said. “He doesn’t just answer the call on emergencies — he looks for ways to make the department stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the future. His humility, commitment, and leadership are an example to every firefighter who wears this uniform.”
Brian Watts, named Charlotte Firefighter of the Year, brings humility and dedication to every role he takes on.
Watts might not seek recognition, but his selection as Firefighter of the Year ensures it. And for Charlotte Fire, the honor is about acknowledging the quiet strength of those who step forward, take on tough roles, and make a difference not for glory, but for the good of their crews, their city, and the people they serve.