Fort Novosel firefighters, soldiers and community members participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Information is on display for the Fort Novosel firefighters before the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Jeremy Evett, Fort Novosel Fire Chief, speaks to Fort Novosel firefighters before the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

LTC Tom Burch, Director of Public Safety, carries the American Flag during the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Fort Novosel firefighters participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Fort Novosel firefighters participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Williams, Fort Novosel garrison command sergeant major, participates in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Jeremy Evett, Fort Novosel Fire Chief, shakes hands with Fort Novosel community members during the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. -- The Fort Novosel Fire Department hosted its 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Friday Sept. 6 in building 5700, the Soldier Service Center. The firefighters began climbing at 8:46 a.m. and ended at 9:59 a.m. This symbolized the time between the World Trade Center’s North Tower being hit and the South Tower collapsing on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City.

Soldiers, Fort Novosel firefighters, and community members participated in the event with the goal to climb the equivalent of 110 stories – the amount New York City firefighters faced on Sept. 11.

Lieutenant Chris Quattlebaum, station 1 firefighter, opened the event with a reading of Ringing of the Bell which explains the history of bell ringing for firefighters.

“The men and women of today’s fire service are confronted with a more dangerous work environment than ever before,” read Quattlebaum. “We are forced to continually change our strategies and tactics to accomplish our tasks. Our methods may change but our goals remain the same as they were in the past; to save lives and to protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost. This is what we do, this is our chosen profession, this is the tradition of the fire fighter.”

Lieutenant Chris Quattlebaum, station 1 firefighter, rings the ceremonial bell to begin the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

After the reading, Quattlebaum rang the bell to officially begin the stair climb.

Nearly 30 participants began the 110 stories wearing everything from civilian clothes and military uniforms to firefighter gear and a few challenged themselves with additional weighted items.

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Majetich, Fort Novosel 6th MP Detachment fire fighter, started the climb with his standard Firefighter Turnout Gear and added a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) totaling 75 additional lbs. to his bodyweight.

“On 9/11, the firefighters didn’t go half dressed,” said Majetich, “they went all the way up with all of the gear on because when you arrive in an emergency scene you have to be ready.”

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Majetich, Fort Novosel 6th MP Detachment firefighter, participates in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

High rise emergencies, like those experienced on Sept. 11, 2001, require unique gear compared to those on a ground level.

“When you arrive at an emergency scene in a high rise building like the Twin towers, you don’t have time to go back down,” said Majetich. “People’s lives may depend on it. At the very least, what I can do is wear as much as I can to feel what they felt and honor their memory and sacrifice.”

Training for high rise emergencies is difficult on Fort Novosel as it requires staircases 3 stories or higher. Building 5700 is one of two places on the installation to do so.

“We try to incorporate this training in our regiment so that we are ready for the physical exertion of it at all times,” said Majetich. “On the ground level you have an immediate water supply but three floors up you must use what is available to you and that is not very much.

Majetich had participated in the Memorial Stair Climb nearly a decade prior and said he was looking forward to honoring those that lost their lives 23 years ago.

“I was 13 years old when 9/11 happened so there is a lot of significance here for me,” said Majetich. “The Fort Novosel Fire Department is so great, they try to support the military fire fighters in every way, any time they hold an event like this I try to come support with my soldiers. Many are on shift today but those that could, came out here to honor the fallen.”

All 110 stories were completed by the group well before the 9:59 goal completion time.

Majetich crossed the finish line carrying the additional weight of a fire hose. Jeremy Evett, Fort Novosel Fire Chief, helped remove Majetich’s hose as he crossed the finish line.

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Majetich, Fort Novosel 6th MP Detachment firefighter, completes the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb inside Bldg. 5700 on Fort Novosel Sept. 6, 2024.

Upon finishing, Majetich said “I was happy and proud to do this today, and I will be back here next year.”

Find more photos from the event on the FLICKR  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBGNU9