An Inside Look at How 9/11 Forever Changed the FDNY

After September 11, New York’s fire department had to rebuild from top to bottom. Nearly 350 active-duty firefighters were killed in the attacks and the aftermath, decimating the department and its leadership. In the wake of 9/11, the FDNY had to juggle multiple needs: a complete overhaul of the entire department; caring for grieving family members; working the rescue and recovery operation at Ground Zero, and all while still providing regular fire protection for the city. 

You can learn the inside story of how the department transformed itself out of the ashes of tragedy at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 29. The talk, called Rebuilding After 9/11: How the Fire Department of New York Was Forever Changed, will feature former FDNY commissioners Thomas Von Essen, Salvatore Cassano and Daniel A. Nigro. They’ll be joined by Brian McDonald, author of Five Floors Up, a book that chronicles the life of Chief William Feehan (the only individual to have held every rank in the FDNY), who was killed on 9/11. They’ll give their insider perspective on how the department faced the challenges after the tragedy, and how it managed to overcome. 

Register for the free event here. 

photo: iStock