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Queens Tribune.com

Boro House Suffers Greatest 9/11 Loss

By LIZ GOFF

MASPETH,- Sept. 11, 2001 : The “rack” inside the Maspeth firehouse bears stunning evidence of the loss Queens suffered Sept. 11.

Firefighters from Squad 288 and HazMat 1 hurriedly tossed their “civvies” on the rack that morning, as they jumped into FDNY gear and onto their rigs – headed toward the mortally wounded Twin Towers.

As the rigs turned toward the smoke-filled Manhattan skyline, the firefighters’ thoughts were focused on the massive task ahead of them. In reality, the two units were about to suffer the greatest loss of any emergency responder in the greatest tragedy to ever strike the U.S.

A total of 25 men were on the Squad 288 rig when it left Queens Sept. 11. Only 17 returned. HazMat 1 lost 11 men who died while helping victims escape from the south tower of the World Trade Center – a total loss of 19 of our Bravest from one firehouse – the single biggest loss of any in the city.

Three months after Sept. 11, the firefighters’ clothes still hung from the rack and their shoes formed an seemingly endless line on the floor below.

“It’s just our way of paying tribute,” fellow firefighters said. “No one will ever fill their shoes.”

Answering The Call

These were some of the firefighters whose final moments were caught by French filmmakers and broadcast as part of the CBS-TV documentary “9/11.” They were the men who headed up the staircases in the Twin Towers as terrified civilians raced to the safety of the street.

A total of 51 children – from teenagers to a 2-week old baby – were left fatherless when the Maspeth firefighters perished. Wives of the firefighters speak with gratitude about the men of HazMat 1 and Squad 288 who have stepped up to fill the void in their children’s lives. The guys make a point to show up at their games, graduations and school activities, wives have said.

“It’s really important for the kids to see them there,” one said. “It’s made all the difference in a difficult adjustment.”

FDNY officials said the men of Squad 288 and HazMat 1 were trained professionals, in both hazardous material removal and counter-terrorism: i.e., bomb removal, identification and removal of nerve agents and biological warfare.

Officials said the surviving firefighters are now faced with the difficult task of rebuilding the units – selecting and training new men who will hopefully, someday, possess the knowledge and expertise of their fallen comrades.

“These men were exceptional people,” FDNY officials said. “They worked hard and trained hard and were, without exception, some of the best the New York City Fire Department had to offer.”