They are in a room in Tarare in the Rhône. Far from the panic and the mortal risk incurred by the New York firefighters on September 11, 2001. But they have decided to take on a challenge to commemorate the sacrifice of many colleagues during the attack on the World Trade Center 23 years ago.
2226 steps, to represent the 110 floors of the World Trade Center. Climbing, to commemorate the rescuers of September 11, is the challenge that the Rhone firefighters have set themselves. They decided to put themselves in the conditions as close as possible to what the New York firefighters experienced physically in the World Trade Center towers. 20 kilos of equipment on their backs, they climb the steps of a machine, helmet and oxygen mask on their heads. The effort is intense, colleagues are on the lookout for the slightest problem.
“I’m watching how he’s doing. There’s a situation that could make him tired so we’re keeping an eye on it. Those who did that in the towers, they had to push hard to get up… the body, the heart, everything.” explains Jean Phillippe.
After his passage, Lucas is soaked, his face has reddened and bears the marks of his equipment. His voice out of breath he can still speak, one wonders how:
“I was focused on the number of steps I had left to do. And I was also thinking about the guys who went up and didn’t come back down. For years I’ve wanted to mark September 11th because it’s an event that marks generations.”
His colleague, Thomas, barely 18 years old, adds: “I wanted to participate to mark the event of September 11. I am 18 years old, I was not born, but this tragic event I wanted to pay tribute to the firefighters. They died in horrible conditions. With the adrenaline we do not think about what can happen we just think about helping our neighbor”.
On September 11, 2001, 343 New York City firefighters died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. They were trying to rescue victims trapped in the Twin Towers after they were struck by hijacked planes. The tragedy had a devastating impact on the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Every fire station in the city lost at least one man that day.
Over the next few years, many more firefighters died from illnesses related to their exposure to toxic substances at Ground Zero. In fact, 20 years after the attacks, it is estimated that as many people have died from the attacks (cancer, depression, suicide) as from the attacks themselves.
