UK firefighters marking 9/11 twentieth anniversary with minute’s silence

Ground Zero at the Twin Towers site Photo David Mark

UK firefighters and control staff are today commemorating the 9/11 tragedy with a minute’s silence across the country, at fire stations, fire controls and other fire service workplaces. They are falling silent at 1.46pm – the time in the UK when the first plane impacted the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed.

The disaster holds particular poignancy for firefighters. 343 out of the 412 emergency workers killed were firefighters, and many more firefighters have since suffered from diseases likely linked to the toxic substances present at the site, and other health issues linked to the disasters.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has also written to its sister union in the USA and Canada, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), to express solidarity on the anniversary of the attacks, particularly in relation to the IAFF’s continuing work fighting for those affected by 9/11.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “We extend solidarity and our sympathies to the family, co-workers and friends of all those who died on that horrendous day, and particularly commemorate the firefighters who passed away. This tragedy was and remains particularly shocking for firefighters everywhere, given that so many firefighters were killed. It is a stark reminder of the risks that firefighters can face across the globe.

“It’s also worth noting that 9/11 is continuing to kill firefighters today. Toxic contaminants present at ground zero have likely caused disease in thousands of firefighters and killed hundreds. Authorities in every country need to be conscious of the constant threat of contaminants to firefighters. We mourn the firefighters who have passed away as a result of this aspect of 9/11 and extend our sympathies to those who are suffering today.”

Toxic contaminants causing firefighter disease is an issue on both sides of the Atlantic. Here, the Fire Brigades Union has just launched its DECON campaign, which aims to train firefighters in techniques which will mitigate the effect of contaminants.

For more information, or for interviews – including, potentially, with local spokespeople – contact Ben Duncan-Duggal on [email protected] or 07825635224.

2 Comments

  1. I remember the day well, but oddly enough I didn’t know about it until nearly 7pm. I’d been busy doing some work indoors, and turned on to catch the end of the local BBC news: the presenter said something like “Our thoughts are with the USA on this terrible day”.

  2. I STILL REMEMBER THAT TUESDAY LIKE IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY.MAY GOD BLESS THE VICTIMS WHO DIED,AND THEIR FAMLIES,AND THOSE EVIL SLIMEHEADS WENT TO HELL

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