Yuma firefighters remember 9/11 with symbolic stair climb
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the deadly 9/11 attacks, and 343 of those lives were firefighters.
In honor of the lives forever changed and of all the fallen, the Yuma Firefighter Association held a stair climb Wednesday morning.
Replicating the physical challenge firefighters and first responders faced on Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters from across Yuma County came together to climb 110 floors — the same amount of floors as the World Trade Center towers.
Local law enforcement and community members also joined the stair climb.
David Padilla with the Yuma Fire Department said this day comes with a lot of emotions. He said it’s a day to “never forget,” which is a phrase that serves as a promise to keep the memories of those lost alive.
“This is an important day to pass on some of our history,” Padilla said. “We have members of the fire department who weren’t in the department during 9/11, so this is a great way for the older generation to remind the younger generation of the sacrifices made.”
That’s exactly what Karina Nepocat and her partner who’s a firefighter try to instill in their children.
“It’s hard to explain this event because it’s such a tragedy,” she said.
She said this day serves as a reminder to love those around you.
“Giving that love, that unconditional love right before they walk out the door, because they work for 24 hours. They’re gone for a long time,” she said. “The most important thing is that we said we would never forget. So events like this are important so we don’t forget.”
More than 30 people completed the stair climb on Wednesday.
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