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.
Three of the FDNY’s leading responders on Sept. 11, 2001, reflect on how 9/11 impacted EMS and beyond
Firefighter Thomas Gambino marks 20 years with the FDNY this year, carrying on the legacy of his father
In 2010, Stewart dedicated an episode of “The Daily Show” to shame Congress into passing the Zadroga Act
Customers said the employees were disrespectful, saying that volunteer firefighters were “fake” since they didn’t have a uniform to wear as proof
He rarely left his room at his parents’ house where he posted his boasts on a site frequented by ISIS supporters; he confided in an online acquaintance that he was an “online troll” who liked to stir up trouble through hoaxes
The golden retriever traveled from Cypress, Texas, with her owner, Denise Corliss, to work with dozens of other dogs and humans to find victims in the rubble of the World Trade Center
The fire chief said the trip served as a bonding moment not only among fathers and children, but among the young firefighters
The 42-year-old firefighter is seen dancing with his 4-year-old son; the video has been shared more than 1,500 times
Joshua Goldberg, 20, is accused of sending instruction to an FBI informant on how to make a pressure-cooker bomb; if convicted, he could face 20 years in prison
The most profound loss on that fateful day in 2001 was the loss of family
They added the names of the firefighters who died of illness after being part of the rescue and recovery effort
Lt. Joe Torrillo: “Don’t be afraid when life throws a detour sign in your way. Embrace it.”
Lawmakers called on Congress to prevent expiration of the James Zadroga Sept. 11 Health and Compensation Act, which is set to expire next year
The mother-of-two blamed her illness on inhaling dust particles
A volunteer group of police officers, firefighters and union workers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks will work with Newtown’s first responders on a year-long program to treat symptoms of crime-scene trauma
The 63-year-old, who’s retired, gets $3.3 million in a lump-sum payment after taxes are taken out
Michael O’Connell carried his helmet home when he retired in 2009, shortly after being diagnosed with sarcoidosis
Proceeds from the May 17 climb will support service members who’ve been catastrophically injured in war and help educate children who’ve lost a parent
The terrorist attack on the twin towers was one of two big events that set the stage for a change in evacuation philosophy
James Woods, 44, completed a 24-hour shift Christmas morning, returned home and felt ill
Chief Russell Brooks said they started putting the sign up after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
She will be the first daughter of a firefighter who died on 9/11 to become a firefighter
Firefighters cut the window’s glass and rescued the window washers trapped on the scaffolding dangling 69 stories
The official opening marked a symbolic return to some sense of normalcy for the site where the towers toppled
A United Airlines Flight 93 boarding pass, a Newark International Airport parking receipt and passengers’ identification cards were among the artifacts lost
The investigation has found no signs of arson or foul play in the Oct. 3 fire
White paint was used to deface the memorial to fallen first responders
An initial inventory indicated the losses included a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11
The fire at the museum’s temporary headquarters also destroyed other personal of the passengers and crew
The law, which funds treatment for workers sickened by the toxic fumes of Ground Zero, expires in 2016
Commissioner Daniel Nigro said their deaths are a painful reminder that 13 years later we continue to pay a terrible price for the department’s heroic efforts
