PHIL CHAPIN

Phil Chapin has been in the fire service for over 24 years and has experienced first-hand the demands of being a first responder. Firefighting is inherently dangerous, but Phil knows it can also be psychologically and emotionally dangerous and ultimately take its toll on firefighters. He is passionate about coaching through peer support and training, which is the motivation behind the After the Alarm programs and retreats.

 

Phil wasn’t raised in posh surroundings or with a supportive and loving family. Born to a drug-addicted teen mother, he was in and out of foster care and fighting for the safety and welfare of his younger siblings. As a third-grader, he was significantly impacted by Orange County Fire Authority when they visited his elementary school to present a fire safety assembly. The interaction with these firefighters would influence Phil for the rest of his life. Suffering from untreated ADHD, PTSD, physical and psychological abuse his entire childhood, the social system had given up on Phil. Ultimately living on the streets as a teen, Phil developed grit and determination to make a better life for himself and his future family. It wasn’t until a caring family took him into their home at the age of 18 did his life begin to change. Their love and patience turned his life around and gave him the tools and confidence to become the man, Captain, husband, and father he is today.

 

Phil and his wife, Kim Chapin, have been married 30 years and are parents to two amazing daughters who follow their own passion in nursing. They know the family life of a first responder can be challenging, but Phil and Kim have found that their marriage has been able to thrive with love, commitment, and patience. Genuinely understanding one another and building their relationship on communication is the key to their marriage. Phil and Kim share their journey of marriage and raising a family during After the Alarm Couple’s Retreats specifically created for first responder families and their unique challenges.