Firefighters complete 9/11 memorial stair climb in US

A group of firefighters from Lancashire and Greater Manchester have completed a memorial stair climb in the United States to honour colleagues who died in the 11 September attacks.

The firefighters travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, where they joined around 200 firefighters from across the UK and Ireland for the challenge.

Participants climbed the equivalent of 110 floors, matching the height of the World Trade Center towers in New York, where 343 firefighters were among those killed during the attacks in 2001.

Lancashire firefighter Jamie Oldfield said the trip had been both emotional and inspiring.

The memorial climb took place inside the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium, with firefighters from both the US and the UK taking part in full firefighting kit.

Temperatures reached about 105F (40C), with participants facing intense heat and humidity throughout the challenge.

Oldfield said the group received a special send off from London Heathrow Airport, where fire crews escorted their aircraft along the runway before departure.

"It was fantastic. There were around 200 of us from the UK going over together, so it felt really special from the start," he added.

After arriving in Atlanta, the firefighters met colleagues who had attended Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attacks, as well as relatives of some of those who died.

Oldfield said hearing their experiences brought home the significance of the event and "meant a lot".

"We met firefighters who were there on the day and listened to them talk about how they've dealt with life after 9/11," he said.

"One of them is still serving as a firefighter in New York.

"We also met the brother of Terry Farrell, who the [Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund] charity is named after."

Oldfield said completing the 110 floor climb gave him a greater appreciation of what firefighters in New York faced on 11 September 2001.

"Doing the event was hard enough. For them, they were climbing those stairs in full kit while responding to a real emergency, carrying equipment and trying to rescue people," he said.

"I go into difficult situations as part of my job, but nothing to that extreme. I don't think I can truly imagine what it was like for them that day."

The firefighters took regular opportunities to cool down, with water stations and ice available around the course.

Oldfield said the scale of the challenge only became clear once participants left the shade of the stadium and entered the morning sunshine.

"As soon as we got into the sun it made it very, very difficult," he said.

The group took part to raise money for three charities including the Fire Fighters Charity, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund and the Blue Light Card Foundation.

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund supports firefighters and their families in the US.

The Fire Fighters Charity provides support for serving and retired firefighters in the UK and the Blue Light Card Foundation supports the wellbeing of people working across the emergency services, social care, health sector and armed forces.

Oldfield said firefighters from Lancashire had raised about £4,500, while the total raised across all participating services currently stood at about £20,000.

Organisers expect the overall figure to rise to around £60,000 once all fundraising has been finalised.

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