Glenn Gray Crabtree Jr.

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of former Glendale Fire Chief G. Gray Crabtree on May 2, 2020. He began his career as a firefighter in 1961 and quickly moved up through the ranks in the Glendale Fire Department and was promoted to Fire Chief in 1973. Chief Crabtree served on a committee in the 1970's with Diane McCarthy, Howard Adams, and other individuals in the medical field sponsoring a bill for a State Paramedic Program. Chief Crabtree presented, to the Legislature, research on the paramedic field and pre-hospital care. The Bill was passed and soon after the first paramedics in Arizona graduated from Phoenix College. The Glendale Fire Department became the first valley fire department to staff every engine company with paramedics. The Glendale Fire Department was the first valley Department to staff an "Attack Truck" with a revolutionary new device called the "Jaws of Life". Word quickly spread about the unmatched capabilities of this revolutionary new device. Soon the Glendale Fire Department began receiving calls for help from neighboring agencies. Chief Crabtree did not hesitate to allow "Rescue 51" to respond where needed. In the mid 1970's, Chief Crabtree formed a pact with neighboring cities that would erase the city boundaries for fire and EMS dispatches. This "automatic-aid" agreement, dispatches the closest available unit regardless of which city the call for help came from. In 1976, Chief Crabtree started a program that had firefighters installing smoke detectors in homes. Chief Crabtree imparted a great deal of his management and leadership experiences to future firefighters and chiefs as he served the citizens of Glendale for many years before retiring in 1989. He genuinely loved firefighters and was an advocate for safety, training, and professionalism all throughout his career. He made many lasting contributions to the Glendale Fire Department, the valley, and nationally. G. Gray Crabtree is survived by his wife of 62 Years, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.