09/11/2026
Twenty five years ago today, 343 firefighters began their shifts believing it would be just another day. By 10:28 a.m. both towers of the World Trade Center were in rubble and our country was changed forever. These brave firefighters were then followed by their friends who spent months sifting through that wreckage to make recoveries, unknowingly exposing themselves to toxins that would ultimately cause major health problems.
In the 25 years since that day, there have been over 600 more firefighter deaths from toxic exposures at ground zero. They have passed from everything from respiratory diseases to cancers. Nearly 1000 firefighter deaths directly related to the tragic events of that day.
Today we honor their sacrifice by remembering why we became firefighters - to help the public whenever we can, to put ourselves in harms way if necessary and to always remember the potential consequences of being a part of the fire service.
