TEMPE, AZ — Firefighter Tommy Arriaga, who was 36 years old, was laid to rest Wednesday after a battle with colorectal cancer.
Arriaga’s death marks Tempe Fire Medical Rescue’s second line-of-duty death.
He is survived by his wife Monica, and two daughters Miranda, age 7, and Madalynn, age 3.
"He's just a hero to us all," Deputy Chief Kyle Carman said of his friend Tommy. "He and his wife are people that we looked up to as parents, so we always relied on them to help us walk through being new parents."
Arriaga began his career with the department in 2014.
The firefighter's wife and two daughters remained close to his side as he went through chemotherapy.
His fellow crew members also supported him to the end, even shaving their heads to show solidarity.
