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Brandi Crockett-Nance -- Nevada firefighter
Nevada Daily Mail
Certain careers tend to run in families: firefighters, police officers, and undertakers. This is not always the case though as Brandi Crockett-Nance demonstrates. Nance is the not only the first in her family to pursue a career in firefighting, she is also the first full-time female firefighter with Nevada Fire Department.
Nance, 38, is a 1995 graduate of Lamar High School and is "used to being the only girl in things."
She got started in emergency services while working at 3M in Nevada. Nance eventually became a member of all four of 3M's Emergency Response Teams: fire, confined space rescue, hazardous materials, and medical. It was at an ERT training event when former Nevada Fire Chief Bob Benn mentioned Firefighter I and II training. Nance jumped at the opportunity.
Eager to further her experience, Nance joined Sheldon Fire Department while she was taking her Firefighter I and II class in early 2014. She trained as an emergency medical technician at Vernon County Ambulance District in early 2015.
She applied for an open position at Nevada Fire Department and reported for her first shift on Dec. 15, 2014. Nance said that in becoming a firefighter, she finally found what she wanted to do.
Her experiences at NFD have ranged from run-of-the-mill winter grass fires to a patient that was bitten by a bat. One of her first calls was for a child who fell through the ice into the water. Despite the difficult calls, she enjoys seeing something new at work every day.
Nance met her husband, Troy Nance, while working at O'Sullivans. They were introduced by Troy's dad and their first date was a hunting trip. She describes her wedding as being the happiest day of her life.
Outside of work, Nance is a proud mother of four children: Cheyenne Potter, 20; Natalie Nance, 15; Danielle Nance, 14; and Tyler Nance, 12. Two years ago, they hosted Kate, an exchange student from Russia who suffered just a little culture shock coming to a rural area from a large city.
She has recently been busy sewing firefighter themed baby bedding as she will also add grandmother to her list of titles this year as Cheyenne is expecting her first baby. She has even taken her sewing machine to the fire station on Sundays when firefighters have little in the way of scheduled work to do.
Nance said her greatest influence growing up was her grandmother Crockett who taught her how to cook and clean, and inspired her to be a strong woman. Losing her was the saddest day of Nance's life.
She credits Becky Clelland, her third grade teacher, and Tom Richards, her math teacher and an instructor pilot, as having the most influence on her academic career. She now holds an associate of science degree in business management from Western Governor's University.
Besides work and family, Nance enjoys reading, walking, hunting, and fishing. Their pets include Hoho the cat, four dogs: Lady, Lucy, White Socks, and Opie, rabbits, quail, turkey, cows, and chickens.
She hopes to further her fire service career and test for engineer (driver) this fall.