MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
9/11 Firefighter Memorial Stair Climb
On September 11 over 60 firefighters from across New Zealand will be climbing the 28 floors of the BNZ building at 125
Queen Street in Auckland, in memory of their colleagues who have been lost in the line of duty.
The 9/11 date is a poignant date in the firefighter calendar, with 341 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost
as they attempted to rescue people and fight fires in the US September 11 attacks in 2001.
Male and females firefighters from the New Zealand Fire Service, rural and industrial brigades will be taking part in
the inaugural event. They will climb the building in full firefighting gear and carrying high rise firefighting
equipment (a total weight of almost 40kg).
The climb begins at 09.30am and will be opened by the Fire Service Chaplain, Dean Ross Bay. Fire appliances and
firefighters will be positioned at the base of the building to build awareness and hold a collection for the Firefighter
Welfare Society.
Similar events have started in different cities around the world and this will be the first of an annual event for New
Zealand. It also aims to raise awareness for the Firefighter Welfare Society which supports injured firefighters and
their families.
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