New York City, Oct. 1, 2001–With more than 300 members missing after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, the Fire Department of New York is trying to rebuild its operating forces by reassigning firefighters, promoting personnel, and preparing for a large recruit class.
The losses have been staggering–in the rescue companies, in the squads, in Special Operations Command, and the list goes on. Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, in a somber promotion ceremony just days after the attack, promoted 168 members to try and fill gaps in the command structure. And he has ordered officials to call up 400 names from the department�s hiring list to begin the next 25-week recruit class at the training academy on October 29. That is more than triple the usual recruit class size.
Also lost are 89 destroyed fire department vehicles, including 18 engines, 13 ladders, and five rescues. Every piece of backup equipment that has been kept in garages has been put into use.
