09/11/2026
Today marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a day that forever changed the world and left a lasting impact on the fire service.
For Medicine Hat Fire Marshal, Scott Hanelt, the connection to 9/11 is a personal one.
One year after the attacks, Scott and retired Medicine Hat Platoon Chief Tom Coffey travelled to New York City to attend the memorial ceremonies alongside more than 77,000 firefighters. During their visit, they spent time at New York fire stations, spoke with firefighters who experienced unimaginable loss and visited the area surrounding the World Trade Center site.
At a nearby church, photographs, memorabilia and fire department badges from around the world had been left in tribute. Scott added Medicine Hat Fire Department patches to the collection, a small piece of our department left behind in honour of the firefighters and emergency responders who answered the call that day.
The lessons of September 11 also helped shape the fire service we know today. In the years that followed, emergency services strengthened coordination between fire, police and EMS; expanded hazardous materials and CBRNE preparedness; improved communications, training and protective equipment; and placed greater emphasis on firefighter mental health, occupational cancer prevention and on-scene decontamination.
Twenty-five years later, we remember the 2,977 people who were killed in the attacks, including 343 FDNY firefighters, and the many others whose lives and health were forever changed.
We remember their courage, their sacrifice and their service.
Never forget 🙏
