Fire Service prepares to commemorate 9/11 attacks

Fire stations across Greater Manchester will observe a minute’s silence this Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3000 people – including 343 firefighters attending the Twin Towers in New York.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will be marking the anniversary by opening the doors of their 41 fire stations across the county to allow the public to pay their respects.

Each station will be holding a minute’s silence at 1.46pm – the UK time when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center – the first of four hijacked planes used as missiles that day. Refreshments will be available following the minute’s silence.

County Fire Officer and Chief Executive Steve McGuirk, said: “I, like many others, vividly recall the events of 10 years ago and the scale of the horror that unfolded.

“It is important that everyone at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has an opportunity to pay their respects to the victims of the terrorist attacks in which we lost so many of our American colleagues.

“Each of our stations will be opened up to the public from 1.30pm in preparation for the commemoration and everyone is welcome to join with our staff in marking this sad anniversary.”

In addition to the minute’s silence at each fire station.