R.I.P all 9/11 Victims

[BanzaiCat]

Over 10,000 firefighters, over 3,500 EMS personnel, and almost 2,000 civvies work for the NYFD, as of 2013.

10 divisions comprised of 53 battalions, spread out over a total of 255 stations including 34 EMS-only stations (no fire equipment) and 3 fireboat stations.

In 2013 they handled almost half a million calls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Fire_Department

On 9/11, 414 of them were killed. That includes 341 firefighters and 2 paramedics from the NYC fire department, 37 police officers from the Port Authority, 23 police officers from the NYC police department, and 8 EMTs from private hospitals.

16 battalions, 3 divisions, 33 engine companies, 1 haz-mat unit, 29 ladder companies, 5 rescue companies, 1 special ops unit, and 5 squads all lost personnel that day.

Ladder 3, for example, is a company of about 25 firefighters. They lost 22 men that day. So many others lost half their compliment that day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_workers_killed_in_the_September_11_attacks

Even losing ONE such firefighter or emergency worker in the line of duty is a hugely painful experience for the ENTIRE rescue community, not just within their area of operations but to the community at large across the country. Firefighters and EMS personnel will come from hundreds of miles away to attend the funeral of a fallen comrade. So, 9/11 was on the level of a holocaust for the community. Not to lessen the deaths of the thousands of other victims at all - I'm just relating how rescue workers in general react to this.

[GDS_Starfury]

taken from wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Fire_Department

The FDNY employs approximately 10,200 uniformed firefighters and over 3,600 uniformed EMTs and paramedics.
so while tragic the numbers were less then 5% of the total available force. 

I really hate cold numbers...  >:(

[LongBlade]

I really hate cold numbers...  >:(

I hate Islamo-facists.

[GDS_Starfury]

Im still down for orbital kinetic strikes.

[BanzaiCat]

...it's the only way to be sure.

[Staggerwing]

Even losing ONE such firefighter or emergency worker in the line of duty is a hugely painful experience for the ENTIRE rescue community, not just within their area of operations but to the community at large across the country. Firefighters and EMS personnel will come from hundreds of miles away to attend the funeral of a fallen comrade. So, 9/11 was on the level of a holocaust for the community. Not to lessen the deaths of the thousands of other victims at all - I'm just relating how rescue workers in general react to this.

I can attest to this. When I was an EMT back in the 80's a drunk hit an ambulance head on on the highway, killing one EMT and one trainee as well as the patient they were transporting. The second EMT permanently lost the use of one of his arms. I personally knew all three crewmembers. A coworker and I were privileged to be able to show our support by representing our EMS unit (based out of our local hospital) and drive an ambulance in one of the funeral processions. We were far from alone. There were at least thirty other ambulances from a number of surrounding states, never mind all the civilian vehicles as well. One of the crews was even from Canada. It was a humbling experience, seeing those crews who must have gotten into their rigs the night before to drive all night and morning just to be there in time.

[JudgeDredd]

There were many brave men and women that day - I can guarantee you something - the suicide bombers, whilst devoted to their cause, were not brave

The brave were the innocents.

RIP all and I hope everyone affected recovers - one day. Thanks for your input.  :(

[BanzaiCat]

Even losing ONE such firefighter or emergency worker in the line of duty is a hugely painful experience for the ENTIRE rescue community, not just within their area of operations but to the community at large across the country. Firefighters and EMS personnel will come from hundreds of miles away to attend the funeral of a fallen comrade. So, 9/11 was on the level of a holocaust for the community. Not to lessen the deaths of the thousands of other victims at all - I'm just relating how rescue workers in general react to this.

I can attest to this. When I was an EMT back in the 80's a drunk hit an ambulance head on on the highway, killing one EMT and one trainee as well as the patient they were transporting. The second EMT permanently lost the use of one of his arms. I personally knew all three crewmembers. A coworker and I were privileged to be able to show our support by representing our EMS unit (based out of our local hospital) and drive an ambulance in one of the funeral processions. We were far from alone. There were at least thirty other ambulances from a number of surrounding states, never mind all the civilian vehicles as well. One of the crews was even from Canada. It was a humbling experience, seeing those crews who must have gotten into their rigs the night before to drive all night and morning just to be there in time.

Absolutely.

When I was a paramedic, we had a medic that got into a car accident that broke her leg. She hobbled around on a cast for the longest time and I remember making jokes with her about it. She got the cast off, then about a week later she died in a car accident. We all took it hard, but her partner took it hardest. You form bonds with those folks that little can break. I've known an asshole or two that were medics in those years but in general most are really good people that are totally dedicated to their jobs. Everyone I knew would not have hesitated to enter those towers, just like the ones that didn't make it out.

[Gusington]

Here in my small village there was a medic who was also killed by a drunk driver very similar as described above 25+ years ago. Because of what happened to her, our ambulance corps got a huge influx of modern safety equipment and money to buy more.