Your Catholic Neighbor: Tom Knapp
Fighting fires and saving lives

By Joyce Coronel, The Catholic Sun
July 5, 2007

One of the first things people notice about Deputy Chief and Fire Marshall Tom Knapp is how calm he is. That’s a good thing considering the guy has spent his entire adult life putting out fires and saving lives.

He’s rescued people trapped in cars submerged in water. He’s helped put out forest fires. He’s battled house fires and rescued drowning children from pools. And, he modestly admits, he’s delivered 13 babies.

The St. Francis Xavier parishioner and father of three young daughters is philosophical yet emphatic when asked about his Catholic faith: “My faith and beliefs affect me every hour of every day on this job. I’ve been exposed to people’s worst days, the very worst moment of their life, because that’s when people call us.”

His career saving lives began back in high school when he worked as a lifeguard at Big Surf in Tempe. A quick study, he earned his Emergency Medical Technician certification by the time he was just 17 years old.

A 25-year-long career in firefighting was hatched during a stint working at a restaurant called the Firehouse, an eatery that had once housed Tempe’s fire department. One of Knapp’s co-workers introduced him to a seasonal job as a wild-land firefighter.

After a year putting out blazes in the wilderness, Knapp was hooked and moved up to combating structural fires. He has vivid memories of the first time he was called to the scene of a house fire. Listeners might wince, but Knapp doesn’t flinch as he explains that “it was a different time in fire service,” in that the personal protection and communications were not as sophisticated as they are now.

 While fighting the fire from inside the house, he sustained first and second degree burns on his neck, back and arms when the roof of the building collapsed on him. Knapp was transported to a local hospital, treated and released — and headed right back to battling fires.

He’s a soft-spoken man who’s had a fulfilling career. Knapp has worked all over the Valley in various fire departments, as an engineer, captain, lieutenant and administrative chief, but he’s spent the last four years at the Gila River Indian Community just south of Phoenix, mostly working to prevent fires. The reservation boasts three fire houses and encompasses more than 650 square miles. Located on a wind-swept road near the Firebird Raceway, the post is anything but quiet. “We’ve had six fatalities in one weekend,” he said.

Perhaps the most amazing story of Knapp’s career took place when he was working out of a station in Ahwatukee. A family called to let firefighters know their baby daughter was home from the hospital. The child had a serious heart defect and the parents wanted the emergency crew to know where their house was located.

It wasn’t long before the call came into the station: the girl’s heart had stopped beating. Knapp said, “Everything happened right. I was mentally prepared for the call.”

He headed to the scene, performed CPR and saved the baby’s life. In a curious turn of events, the same incident occurred again about a year later, and for second time, Knapp saved the girl’s life.

“On her birthday, her parents brought me a cake,” he said with a grin.

What do you like most about being Catholic?

We have a very diverse congregation, from employment to race to levels of belief. It’s a pretty broad spectrum. You get to meet and be with people from all backgrounds.

Are you involved in any Catholic organizations?

I’m a third degree Knight of Columbus. I’ve been a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier in Phoenix for 11 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Every day is different even though some of the tasks are mundane. I do get to make a difference. I also like the fact that I can be very open about my faith here at work. It’s OK to have a crucifix on my desk.

How hard is it to become a firefighter?

You have to go to college and study fire science and you have to get your EMT certification. You also have to pass the annual physical.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I’ve already met the people I wanted to meet. A few years ago I met Reba McIntyre and back in 1987 when Pope John Paul II came to Tempe, I helped provide security.

What’s your favorite movie?

I don’t really like going to the movies too much, but I do watch them at home. Some of my favorites are “Somewhere in Time” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

What’s your favorite quote?

“It is what it is.” You have to deal with things and you don’t get to pick or choose in our business. You try to make good out of bad.