It’s the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the Lewis-Arriola Fire Department station is hosting its annual 9/11 tribute to honor those who lost their lives that day.
It’s the sixth year the firefighters replicated the feat first responders faced as they climbed the burning World Trade Centers in New York City two decades ago.
Participants, many adorned in full gear with airpacks, will climb the equivalent of 110 stories at the station’s three-story training tower in remembrance of the 412 first responders who died that day – 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, eight EMTS and a fire patrolman.
“It's a remembrance tribute just so people can can feel what they'd gone through – to a point,” said Lewis-Arriola Fire Chief George Deavers.
They will start their climb at 8 p.m. at 22145 County Road S, and the public is invited to attend.
Deavers said his son, along with volunteer firefighter Levi Hill, first had the idea years ago. They wanted to do something in honor of 9/11 and had the idea to climb football field bleachers.
From there, the event grew.
“The next year, everybody did it,” Deavers said. “We invited other departments and then we moved into our tower after that.”
Firefighters from throughout Montezuma County participate in the tribute, as well as deputies from the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, he said.
