|
The National Volunteer Fire Council published an interesting report on August 1, 2002 about the role of the volunteer fire service in the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. The NVFC found that volunteers were "critical to the successful mitigation of the terrorist attacks". Other important findings:
 *
|
375 volunteer departments were identified as responding to one of the attacks on 9/11.
|
*
|
In New York, 285 departments participated including 2,613 volunteers that provided over 43,700 hours of service including scene response, backfilling of fire stations and standby at fire stations in preparation for secondary attacks.
|
*
|
In Nassau County 203 volunteers were activated who subsequently logged in 1,846 hours.
|
*
|
In Suffolk County 1,000 volunteers were activated and they logged in 10,710 hours. 81 fire departments, representing 80% of the total in the county, were involved in the rescue efforts in some way and 12 of the EMS agencies also participated. Unfortunately, a volunteer/EMT from the Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad (VA), who helped FDNY paramedics, was killed when one of the towers collapsed.
|
*
|
55% of the departments were involved in the first two days after 9/11.
|
*
|
Another 25% were involved through the fourth day. Over the long term, volunteers were also involved in the evidence recovery operations at the Fresh Kill Landfill on Staten Island.
|
*
|
Some 4,000 of the 10,000 firefighters and rescuers who worked at the WTC have complained of a chronic cough.
|
http://www.nvfc.org/pdf/rolevolfiresvc911.pdf
|
