When Capt. Tim Clayton retires from the Tucson Fire Department next year, another family member will carry on his name at the department.
Clayton is joined at work by his 23-year-old daughter, firefighter Christa Clayton, who graduated from the department's training academy in June after attending the University of Arizona for four years.
She was a junior majoring in psychology when she decided to join the Fire Department.
Tim Clayton works Downtown at Fire Station 1, and his daughter works at Fire Station 12, near East Broadway and Harrison Road.
He was the first firefighter in his family, but his grandfather was a police officer, and his older brother is with the Tucson Police Department, he said.
Clayton will celebrate his 34th anniversary with the department today and will retire in May.
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"Basically, I was looking for a job," he said when asked why he became a firefighter.
He was about to apply at a local mine years ago when a friend who had been hired by the Fire Department told him about the benefits and responsibilities of a firefighter, he said.
"After that, it piqued my interest. I just went down and knocked on the door of the station on Grant Road," he said.
Christa Clayton also was looking for a career while she was attending college and working part time at a restaurant, she said.
She was influenced by her father as well.
"My dad loved going to work for 34 years, so that's not bad. The people he works with are amazing people," she said. "I thought, 'I'll take the test and give it a try.' "
Once Christa made it to the academy, she encountered a new set of challenges.
"There's a lot to learn as far as EMT and the fire side of it," she said. "Physically working that hard every day is tough."
Despite the mental and physical challenges, Christa had no problem keeping up with her classmates, she said.
Christa is one of about 35 female firefighters in the department. There are about 640 firefighters in the department.
She also had ample encouragement from her father.
"He's always been really supportive. If I have a question and he doesn't know, he'll figure it out," she said.
Christa's father not only offered her advice, but he helped her prepare for the physical test by working out with her at the gym and having her drag tires, she said.
Most importantly, he told her to not give up.
"There were the first few weeks, I thought to myself, 'What did I get myself into?' " she said. "He was always there."
Tim Clayton stayed supportive of his daughter throughout her training, but he had to face the reality of his only daughter becoming a firefighter once she finished the academy.
"I didn't have second thoughts, but it really hit home. Is this something I want her to be doing?" he said.
However, Clayton was assured that his daughter had joined for the right reasons, he said.
"She has a good head on her shoulders. She wants to be a firefighter," he said.
Melisa Clayton also was confident in her daughter's decision, but she was surprised as well.
"I really never knew she wanted to move in that direction, but looking back on it, she's always been a very athletic and strong individual," Melisa Clayton said.
Clayton says a prayer each day for her husband and her daughter.
She's content, however, knowing they both love their jobs.
"I know she can be in harm's way, but she's really doing what she loves to do," she said.
Ditto for her husband.
"I can honestly say he has loved every minute of it," she said.
"My dad loved going to work for 34 years, so that's not bad. The people he works with are amazing people. I thought, 'I'll take the test and give it a try.' "
Christa Clayton, firefighter
