LOUISVILLE, Ky. — We've all heard the saying, "I want to be like dad," but a firefighting family trio in Louisville are taking the phrase to the next level.
Major Bryan Stotts, a district chief for the Louisville Fire Department, is still actively serving on the team and so are his two sons Sergeant Caleb Stotts and Oliver Stotts. They all met at Louisville Fire Station 11 on Father's Day. It's a special place for the family that holds a lot of memories.
"The boys were kind of brought up in this fire house," Bryan said. "We did birthday parties and families and crews I've worked with over the years have been great and family oriented."
Bryan Stotts is a father of seven children.
The brothers said while growing up they would see their dad pack up and leave to a scene of a fire.
"We got to see a lot of the runs pulling out and him talking about it and all the stories," Caleb said. "It just seemed really exciting."
"When he would work overtime days and we wouldn't get to see him a lot we'd come up here and spend some time with him," Oliver said.
The brothers admire their dad for inspiring them to start their own careers as first responders. Caleb is six years into his career while his brother Oliver Stotts is going on three years in October.
Caleb said while training to become a firefighter himself that his dad took a step back but was always nearby if he needed advice or help.
"But he was defiantly there along the way to cheer me on and making sure that my spirits were kept up," Caleb said.
"I just tell them we're not here for us," Bryan said. "We're here to serve so with that it's a big responsibility and it's humbling a lot of times."
Oliver said there is some brotherly rivalry between him and his brother on who's their dad's favorite firefighter.
"We want to sharpen each other and grow each other," Oliver said. "He helps me with stuff when I have questions. He wants to see me grow but that's just how brothers go."
Oliver shared a picture of him, his brother and father all at the same fire scene. It was his first time responding as an official firefighter and his family's units also happen to respond as well.
"That was a special moment as well," Oliver Stotts said.
The family reflects on the memories stemming from several pictures. Another picture he shared was of him and his brother holding their dad's arms while sitting on a fire truck when they were kids.
Bryan Stotts shared some fatherly advice he's found while raising his family.
"Live out and witness to them what you want from them when they're older," Bryan Stotts said. "Because they're going to observe it. They're going to watch it. They're going to learn from it and they're going to try and model that. It could be a positive or it could be a negative."
Although the Stotts all serve different areas of the metro they continue to check up on each other when they can. The brothers also mentioned there may be a fourth firefighter in the family in the future as their teenage brother is showing interest in the career.
► Contact reporter Jose Alonzo at jalonzo@whas11.com or on Twitter.
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