In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, firefighters from across the United States converged on the devastated World Trade Center site in New York City to assist with recovery efforts. Among them were Chicago firefighters who felt compelled to join the operation without any formal orders.

Joel Burns, now a retired battalion chief with the Chicago Fire Department, recalled watching the collapse of the Twin Towers on television from a North Side firehouse and immediately deciding to travel to ground zero. After completing his scheduled shift, Burns and three fellow firefighters packed their gear and drove approximately 790 miles nonstop to Manhattan. The group caught sight of the massive plume of smoke rising above the city as they crossed the Hudson River by nightfall.

The 110-story towers had been reduced to a 16-acre site of twisted steel, rubble, and dust. The initial search-and-rescue mission soon shifted to recovery as tens of thousands of first responders and volunteers worked through the debris amid dangerous conditions, including fires that burned for more than 100 days. Workers formed human chains to remove nearly two million tons of material in an effort to locate human remains and identify victims.

Jason Demas, then a division chief with the Aurora Fire Department, was among six firefighters from the Chicago suburbs called to assist. Demas described the scene as one dominated by pulverized concrete and crushed structures, with very few intact objects recovered. Personal items such as purses and hairbrushes occasionally surfaced, underscoring the human cost of the disaster. Around the perimeter, family members handed flyers with photographs and names of missing loved ones to the responders, who encountered posters and tissues taped to trees in silent tribute.

The toll among firefighters was particularly severe. New York City lost 343 of its firefighters at ground zero. Burns recounted that whenever remains of a firefighter were found, all recovery operations halted in respect. The remains would be covered with an American flag and accompanied by a moment of silence and salutes from those present.

Among the poignant memories Burns shared was finding a stranger’s tax returns scattered among the rubble—a moment that underscored the transformation of once-private, vital documents into abandoned relics. Burns also recalled an emotional encounter with a New York firefighter who expressed gratitude for their support during those harrowing days. Years later, the two reunited unexpectedly at a firefighter event in Chicago.

Both Burns and Demas emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of 9/11 for future generations. Burns, now teaching at McHenry County College Fire Academy, routinely shares his experiences with students who were not yet born when the attacks occurred. He stresses that remembering the past is essential to preventing future tragedies.

Demas echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for understanding the history, the responsible parties, and the innocent before assigning blame. He warned against forming assumptions without knowledge and advocated for a collective growth as a nation, recognizing that while the events of 9/11 cannot be changed, the country’s response and future actions remain within its control.