Firefighters climb for 9/11
This year’s Memorial Firefighter Stair Climb marked the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Centre attacks in New York.
More than 160 firefighters from throughout New Zealand, Australia and America climbed Auckland’s Sky Tower on September 11.
Kaikohe Qualified Firefighter Lara Hastings says the climb is like a ‘stairway to heaven’ with pictures of fallen comrades lining the stair case.
‘‘It’s important to remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.’’
She says a haka performed as a sign of respect in front of representatives from New York brigades gave everyone a ‘‘fluttery feeling’’.
Firefighters climb the Sky Tower twice during the event.
‘‘The second round was a lot harder, but we stuck together.’’
Hastings was joined during the climb by fellow Kaikohe firefighters, brother JJ and Brendon Mayall.
Her dad John Hastings from Kamo Fire Brigade also took part, along with representatives from Kawakawa and Kerikeri volunteer brigades.
The annual climb commemorates the 343 New York firefighters who died on 9/11, as well as the 56 New Zealanders who have the lost their lives in the line of duty.
Event organiser and Kawakawa firefighter Tony Scott says the first event in 2007 came after the funeral of his friend Derek Lovell who was killed in action.
‘‘We’d gone back to the station and I was catching up with people I hadn’t seen in a long time.
‘‘I thought why does it have to be a funeral to bring everyone together.’’
He says firefighters are like a big family and the memorial stair climb is all about bringing them together.
‘‘This year’s event was amazing, the best one that’s been done.
‘‘I feel really honoured that people are picking up on it and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that is involved.’’
The firefighters also marched down Federal St in central Auckland while the Police Pipe Band played a lament.
The climb was live streamed globally with a running commentary.
Each participant carried a tag with the name of a firefighter who lost their life in the line of duty.