Central Florida firefighters honor first responders lost on 9/11 with annual stair climb

ORLANDO, Fla. — Honoring the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Central Florida firefighters climbed from the bottom floor to the top of the City National Bank of Florida four times, simulating the 110 stories that first responders who reached the top of the World Trade Center climbed more than two decades ago.

Over 100 Central Florida firefighters suited up and climbed 110 floors, carrying with them over 45 pounds of gear in a ceremony that paid homage to the heroes who risked their lives and did the very same thing 21 years ago.

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“Trying to pay our respects in simulating what those firefighters went through before they died,” said Orlando Fire Department Lieutenant Bassel Ibrahim. “They knew that they were going into a risky situation. Some of them knew that they probably wouldn’t make it but when there are lives on the line. That’s what firefighters do.”

A total of 343 members of New York City’s Fire Department walked into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11th, 2001 and never made it home.

Ibrahim has helped organize this tribute for the last 10 years and told Channel 9 that more than two decades after 9/11, this tribute serves multiple purposes.

“We have firefighters that weren’t even born on 9/11 on the job right now. It’s our job to educate the next generation,” Ibrahim said.

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“With every step, we are going to be thinking about each and every one of those firefighters that put their life on the line that day and did what they had to do to perform rescues,” said Orlando Fire Department Chief Charlie Salazar. “And each and every one of these guys, they would do the very same thing.”

Nearly 3,000 people died in the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City.

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Every year, thousands of first responders participate in 9/11 stair climbs.

It’s a tradition that the Orlando Fire Department told Channel 9 has gotten stronger every year, with several different departments across Central Florida participating in today’s climb.

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