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Home Ground recently interviewed Tony Liotta, a retired New York City firefighter who was a Responder to the 23rd St. fire that occurred on October 17, 1966. Tony had learned about Home Ground through a mutual friend. He said that the services that Home Ground was offering to the 9/11 Responders were valuable and he wanted to show his support as a Responder who had experienced something similar. He wholeheartedly endorses the services and activities of Home Ground. He thinks that it is exactly the kind of program that can be helpful to 9/11 Responders and their families in moving from Ground Zero to Home Ground.
On October 17, 1966 at approximately 21:36, the members of Tony’s company, Engine 18 responded to a call at 6 East 23rd St. A smoldering fire in the cellar, behind an illegal block wall of the Wonder Drug store, developed into an explosion of fire created by a backdraft, causing the floors and building to collapse trapping and killing twelve firefighters. Tony's company, Engine 18, lost five members that night. Tony, who was off duty, reported to work the next morning and received the bad news about the brothers of E18. Tony, with the incoming platoon, reported to the fire scene. He helped find his fallen comrades and helped carry them from the building. Tony recalled what the scene looked like on that day. “Thousands of off duty fireman responded to lend their assistance in whatever way was needed. It was only after the fire was extinguished that entry into the cellar could be made. Rescue had to breach the walls and create openings so that we could enter and find and remove the bodies. To see how your brothers died was not easy to live with or forget”.
Tony did not lose his life that day, but he told us “My life was forever changed by what happened at that fire”. He recalled to us the devastation at the scene. “Nobody talked to me about it. I would have talked to someone if they came up to me or came to see me afterwards”.
He realizes now that, having experienced the extreme trauma of the 23rd St. fire, he was very much in need of an opportunity to speak about the experience with someone who understood the life of a responder and who understood the effect of such a devastating event. Two years ago, as part of his role with the Suffolk County Association of Retired Firefighters, he participated in a Critical Incident Stress Management course. He told us that it was a helpful and valuable course.
Tony also had a personal connection to the events of 9/11. He told us of first meeting a 15 year old boy named Peter Ganci, who was a friend of his wife’s younger sister. Peter was curious about Tony’s career as a firefighter and Tony communicated his love of the job to the young man. Peter eventually chose a career with the New York City Fire Department. He rose to the position of Chief of the Department, the position he held on September 11, 2001, the day he made the ultimate sacrifice with 342 of his fellow firefighters.
Tony understands the conflict that 9/11 Responders have about accessing counseling services. He knows firsthand about some of the reactions they are having to what happened on September 11th and the months afterward. He knows that they have a need to speak about what happened but they also are concerned about being able to continue to do their job. His message to the 9/11 Responders who have experienced this unthinkable event is “Just let it out. Your feelings are normal”.
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