Queen Creek man honored for actions during house fire

A Queen Creek man has been honored for helping his neighbors rescue their pets from a burning home.

The Queen Creek Town Council recently gave Brian Webster the Queen Creek Citizen Award.

Webster was recognized for helping his neighbors rescue two cats and three dogs as flames engulfed their home.

The Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department responded to a house fire near Rittenhouse and Village Loop South roads about 8:45 p.m., Dec. 5. The fire was upgraded to a first alarm, and crews from the Mesa and Gilbert fire departments assisted in putting out the blaze.

Before firefighters came, Webster began to help.

“That Friday night, Brian was watching basketball when he heard a commotion. He went outside, jumped into action, helping his neighbor run into the burning house, not once, not twice, but three times. And together, they successfully got two cats and three dogs out of the home,” said Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley during the Dec. 17 town council meeting.

There were no reported injuries in the fire, but the house was deemed a total loss. The fire is still under investigation.

“While the family is dealing with devastating effects and aftermath, they are so thankful to be able to have the comfort of their family pets,” Wheatley said.

The mayor also read a statement from Webster that said, “You don’t really think, it’s what you should do. You try to help people. I have five pets of my own and I would want someone to save my pets.”

This is only the second time the town has given out the Queen Creek Citizen Award. The first was in 2023, when then 7-year-old Cole Silva saved his 3-year-old sister after she fell into a swimming pool.

“This is an exceptional honor, and we are so proud of the heroic efforts and being an incredible Queen Creek neighbor,” Wheatley said. “Brian Webster is a hero in our house as well. He has been a coach for all four of my children for many, many years. And he’s a hero to many elementary school kids all across Queen Creek and beyond.”

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