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Feature - The tragedy of a job well done

Whistler fire fighters honour their New York brothers and sisters who died in the line of duty

It’s almost a year later and still there is no official death toll for the World Trade Center towers. It is thought to be approximately 2,843, based on missing persons reports and reports of foreign nationals that did not come home as expected. As of February, investigators had only positively identified the remains of 711 of those victims.

One thing is certain, however – the Sept. 11 death toll would have been far greater without the help of the Fire Department of New York and other emergency service personnel. They have been credited with saving thousands of lives by restoring some order to the evacuation of the buildings and helping people overcome by smoke and fear reach the safety of the streets. The first people to evacuate the towers encountered firefighters more than 40 stories up, as they climbed the stairwells to help the evacuees and get closer to the fire.

The first airplane, Flight 11, crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Centre at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. The first fire truck reached the scene less than five minutes later. About 17 minutes afterwards, Flight 175 crashed into the south tower.

The first fire truck arrived at the scene at around 8:50 a.m. By 9:40 a.m. more than 50 firefighter companies were at the scene.

The south tower collapsed at about 10:05 a.m. The north tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m.

The firefighters did what they could, and were still helping with the evacuation of both towers when they collapsed into themselves, blanketing the city in a cloud of toxic black dust.

While investigators can’t say with absolute certainty how many civilians died in the World Trade Center attacks that morning, the firefighters knew exactly how many were lost in the line of duty – 343 men.

It was the biggest single loss of life by emergency services in American history, and more than have ever been lost anywhere in the world at one place at one time. The loss was felt acutely by family members, friends, and by people far and wide who recognized the sacrifice these firefighters had made. They were truly the heroes of Sept. 11.

This sacrifice has since been honoured around the world by firefighters who have the same duties and responsibilities as those who died, fulfilling their oath to protect the public and stand by one another.

For the weeks and months after the initial terrorist attack, representatives from fire departments around the world sent representatives to New York to bring what money they raised and to pitch in where they could. Some aided the New York firefighters in searching through the wreckage for victims and lost comrades. Some attended funerals and were part of honour guards, taking on ceremonial roles that were required that local firefighters didn’t have the time to attend – there were funerals almost every day, and many were putting in one full shift at Ground Zero followed by another full shift on duty.

The Whistler Fire Department originally wanted to send a small group along with a contingent from the Greater Vancouver Regional District to attend a memorial ceremony in early November, but held off on the request of the New York forces that didn’t want to be distracted from their work. The Whistler crew also planned to hand deliver the more than $5,000 they had raised at the annual Fireman’s Ball.

Whistler firefighter Chris Nelson waited until the end of November to go to New York, and went as part of a group from Vancouver. Brian Buchholz and Lance Brannigan left on Dec. 7 and came back on Dec. 10.

The experience was one they would not soon forget.

None of the Whistler emissaries participated in the search at Ground Zero, but found there was still a lot to be done.

"The first night we were there at two in the morning, they happened to find the remains of two New York firefighters," remembers Bucholz. "We formed up with New Westminster firefighters, who were also there, and formed the honour guard as they brought the body off the site."

They also took part in the funeral for Captain Frank Callahan that was taking place that weekend.

"I said then and I really feel today that it was a very emotional, very tearful time for Lance and myself, just to see that close up, all the devastation. And then to shake hands and console even briefly the families or brothers of the firefighters that were lost – that was just heart-tearing."

At the same time, Buchholz said he was impressed with the strength and the resiliency of the people of New York.

"You could see even then that they were moving on. They were grieving and suffering, but they recognized that one of the best ways to honour those peoples’ memories was to be brave and show a strong, united front and they did that."

While Buchholz does not regret his career choice, he says his appreciation for the nature of the job has changed since his visit to New York. In many ways it has actually grown.

"I think Lance and I felt the same thing coming home. As far as firefighting as a career was concerned, it changed," he said. "You’re always safety conscious, but you go to work every day realizing that no matter what safety precautions you take, and how good your training is, and how heads-up you are, that it is still a dangerous profession.

"While we’re never see anything like New York, yeah, it put it into perspective. We’re all a little more conscious of the fact that we have to look out for each other. In New York, firefighters obviously saved thousands of lives, but you hear lots of stories about how firefighters saved other firefighters as well, and other policemen, and so on."

The Whistler firefighters spent a lot of their time in New York in their full dress uniforms, and Buchholz says it was gratifying to see how much respect for their profession had grown in the weeks following the tragedy.

"People would come up to us quite a bit, and say ‘where are you from? Canada? God bless you.’ Or they would stop and talk. They were very aware and thankful of all the firefighters, from Ontario and Burnaby and from all over the world."

While Canadians were more conservative in their appreciation, he says people are more thankful in Whistler as well.

"You get people saying thank you for what you’re doing, even though you’re not doing anything at that time. When we’re out doing public education, demonstrations, fire extinguisher training, people do take an extra minute to thank you and tell us they appreciate what we’re doing."

Personally, Buchholz says he doesn’t rush out of the house any more, even if he is a few minutes late for his shift.

"My daughter is 10, and while we’re very fortunate here in Whistler in that we’ve never had any deaths or serious injuries, I take a minute to say goodnight or goodbye, and give an extra hug and extra kiss to my family before I go out the door. It’s not a big deal, or a big emotional event, but just an extra 10 seconds does make a difference. It has made a difference to me."

To commemorate Sept. 11, the Whistler firefighters are planning to hold a short service at the cenotaph outside of the fire hall at the time the first jet hit the north tower.

Stephen Doyle, the union representative, is organizing the memorial along with 43 other fire departments in the province.

"It’s something small and quiet for the guys in the fire department, and anyone who is up that early is of welcome to stop by," he said.

On Oct. 12, Doyle will head to New York with one or two other local representatives from the fire hall to take part in the New York Fire Fighters Memorial Service at Madison Square Gardens. The service is typically held every year to recognize firefighters and other emergency workers that have fallen in the line of duty, but was cancelled last year as a result of the circumstances.

"It’s a fraternal thing between firefighters, a ways to show our incredible sorrow for all that died, and to be a shoulder of support for families, friends and their brothers and sisters on the fire department," he said.

"I’ve always understood the responsibilities that go with the job, but I think the event really drove home how dangerous a job this can be."

While 9-11 was a unique tragedy for the profession, Doyle hopes people realize that emergency services around the country and around the world put their lives on the line every day.

"It was an extraordinary event, but every year hundreds of firefighters and emergency workers are hurt or killed on the job. People are seeing that now, and appreciating our jobs more."

The fire department presented the money they raised to a member of the FDNY who visited Whistler last winter during a special service.

At the fire hall, Brannigan and Buchholz put together a special memorial for the event including pictures, a card from the funeral of Captain Callahan, and a New York Times article that was later written about the evening where they served as part of the honour guard escorting the remains of the New York firefighters from the site.

The memorial was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who attended a G8 foreign ministers meeting in Whistler this past spring.

It reads: "To Whistler #1. Thanks for being with us in solidarity."



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