Members of the Austin Fire Department were suited up and dripping sweat before 8 a.m. on Friday.
Wearing heavy suits, air packs and hose bundles, they climbed up and down the Pleasant Valley Drill Tower in East Austin until they reached 1,368 feet — the height of the World Trade Center.
Austin firefighters have made the climb 26 years in a row to mark the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial planes, crashing two of them into the Twin Towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, including 343 firefighters.
The department made its first climb on Sept. 12, 2001, making it the longest-running event of its kind in the nation, according to AFD.
The climb is made in silence. Almost everyone does it in full firefighter gear, which adds about 50 pounds.
Austin firefighter Ismael Coronel pours water on his face during the memorial stair climb.
AFD Assistant Chief Andre de la Reza said he was still in training on Sept. 11, 2001. He said it forced him and the rest of his cadet class to consider whether they were willing to put their lives on the line during an emergency.
“It gave us a visceral understanding of the dangers of the job, and it made us make a conscious decision about whether we wanted to do it or not,” he said. “And the answer was resoundingly ‘yes.’”
Firefighters carried more than 50 pounds of gear each, as they made the tower climb nine times.
For de la Reza, the 9/11 attacks solidified his choice to become a first responder. But more and more Austin firefighters don’t have that connection. They are among the millions of Americans that weren’t yet born when 9/11 happened.
But the fire department is trying to make sure no one forgets.
Children watch and hold signs as Austin firefighters climb the Pleasant Valley Tower.
Firefighter Matthew Zwolinski brought his young children to the climb. They helped pass out water bottles and snacks, and made signs that read “Thank You First Responders” and “Never Forget” with drawings of the Twin Towers.
Jennifer Penny, Zwolinski’s close friend, also brought her kids to the event.
“They may not fully grasp what we’re doing here, but I think it’s important that they know that we’re honoring the people lost,” Penny said. “I don’t want it to be forgotten ever. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years.”
Members of the public who want to pay tribute can join a free memorial stair climb at Mt. Bonnell at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Austin firefighters embark on a memorial stair climb.