September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, terrorists used hijacked airplanes as weapons to attack the United States. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City. One plane flew into the side of the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.

Thousands of first responders answered the call that day to search for survivors amid the rubble, smoke and debris, with 343 firefighters ultimately perishing in the collapse of the Twin Towers and countless more succumbing to 9/11-related illnesses from working at Ground Zero.

Use this resource page to learn about developments in healthcare protections for 9/11 first responders, read the experiences of those who were there and reflect on those who left a legacy behind.

To share your 9/11 story, please email editor@firerescue1.com.

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September 11, 2001

9/11 books: First responders share their stories

Books about the catastrophic 9/11 attacks and the long return to normalcy are crucial to the historical record of those we lost and how we moved forward

September 04, 2024 01:52 PM

Greg Friese, MS, NRP

Personal Stories from September 11, 2001

‘The focus was the job’: 9 months working the pile

Chief Freddie LaFemina recalls the unimaginable scene at Ground Zero and the relentless work to find his brother firefighters

September 03, 2024 08:24 PM

Janelle Foskett

Personal Stories from September 11, 2001

The story of the steel: WTC steel, now found around the world, helps tell the story of 9/11

Retired FDNY Firefighter Lee Ielpi’s mission to collect and share WTC steel focuses on remembrance and education

September 03, 2024 08:15 PM

Janelle Foskett

WTC flag stolen from fallen firefighter family’s yard

Jonathan Ielpi was a 29-year-old FDNY firefighter working out of Squad 288 in Queens when he died on Sept. 11

July 02, 2014 02:34 AM

NFPA Reports Sharp Increase in 2013 U.S. Firefighter Fatalities

June 17, 2014 09:41 AM

Firefighter Heroes

Video: Firefighter gets ultimate Father’s Day surprise

He became a surrogate dad to the children of his best friend and fellow firefighter who died Sept. 11; he was surprised and thanked by star players of the New York Jets

June 09, 2014 05:51 AM

Retired 9/11 firefighter dies from brain cancer

Lt. Steven Reisman, 54, battled an aggressive and advanced form of brain cancer since 2011

June 03, 2014 04:40 AM

9/11 museum briefly evacuated due to false alarm

Firefighters responded but later said it turned out to be false; there were no injuries

May 23, 2014 01:37 AM

Firefighter Memorials

9/11 kin, survivors gather at museum ceremony

There are symbols of heroism, ranging from damaged fire trucks to the wristwatch of one of the airline passengers who confronted the hijackers

May 15, 2014 02:20 AM

9/11 remains returned to World Trade Center site

The remains will be transferred to a repository 70 feet underground in the same building as the National September 11 Memorial Museum

May 12, 2014 06:34 AM

Scientists still working to ID victims from 9/11

Mother of a firefighter who died during the attack does not want the unidentified remains in a basement, calling it disrespectful

May 09, 2014 12:16 PM

9/11 firefighter dies of heart attack at 59

The heart attack stemmed from a 9/11-related lung ailment that caused firefighter Luis Fragoso to retire in 2002

April 22, 2014 04:52 AM

28 new indictments in 9/11 disability fraud case

Retired firefighters and police officers are accused of falsely claiming they had depression, PTSD or other psychological problems so crushing they couldn’t work

February 27, 2014 01:48 AM

Kin of 9/11 hijacker to face judge in Guantanamo

The brother in-law of a Pentagon hijacker is accused of an attack on a French tanker off Yemen in 2002

February 06, 2014 01:40 AM

Spire, beacon of 1 World Trade light up NYC

The glow from the 300 LED light modules can be seen 50 miles away

November 09, 2013 05:35 AM

Terrorism Response

The lingering health toll of 9/11

While responders fought their illnesses, they have frequently found that they had to fight legal battles as well

September 08, 2011 08:43 AM

Firefighter Jimmy Riches: A smiling face that we miss so much

The memory of my son lives on through his generous and kind deeds during his young life

September 08, 2011 08:13 AM

A bad day in London: 9/11 from afar

I will never forget how warm and understanding the British were to the loss of so many Americans and first responders

September 08, 2011 07:44 AM

Lawmakers want cancer on WTC disease list

Lawmakers said they filed a petition with the 9/11 health program to require an immediate review of an FDNY study

September 08, 2011 06:56 AM

The post-9/11 rookie: My journey as an FDNY firefighter

I have the obligation to carry on the traditions and respect the 343 brothers and sisters helped to build

September 08, 2011 06:51 AM

9/11 memorials withstood tests of patience

Fundraising for Shanksville, which needs $30 million, has been painfully slow

September 08, 2011 05:18 AM

Thousands of Ground Zero responders sickened 10 years after 9/11

While working at Ground Zero, responders inhaled jet fuel, soot, glass fibers, asbestos, crushed metals, cement dust, pesticides, dioxins and other contaminants

September 08, 2011 05:12 AM

Bon Jovi in 9/11 encore sings for NY firefighters

He sang the same song for a performance that aired nationally on Sept. 23, 2001 prior to the kickoff of the first NFL games after 9/11

September 08, 2011 04:41 AM

Audio files reveal 9/11 air traffic horror

The discussion topics begin with early reports of hijackings and include the scrambling of fighter jets

September 08, 2011 04:35 AM

FDNY pays tribute to 9/11 fallen chaplain

FDNY enshrined the chaplain’s jacket and helmet in the Fire Museum’s permanent collection

September 06, 2011 05:23 AM