NEWS FROM BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE

Broward County Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services

Fire Rescue Public Information Office 954-831-8200

2601 W. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312

www.sheriff.org

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Members of the media are invited to interview representatives from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and the FDNY Retirees of Southeast Florida and get video/photos of Engine 343.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: BSO Fire Station 32, 3400 S.W. Fourth Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Event: 25th Commemoration of Sept. 11, 2001 and Engine 343 Memorial Fire Truck

Additional information regarding media parking, staging and interview opportunities will be provided prior to the event.

As the nation prepares to commemorate the 25th memorial of Sept. 11, 2001, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (BSODFRES) will join the FDNY Retirees of Southeast Florida for a special news conference honoring the lives, service and sacrifice of the first responders who answered the call on that tragic day.

The news conference will take place at BSO Fire Station 32, 3400 S.W. Fourth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. The station is home to BSO Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team, several members of which were deployed to Ground Zero following the attacks as part of the federal Urban Search and Rescue response, assisting with the rescue and recovery effort.

The event will feature Engine 343, a restored 1974 Mack CF600 fire engine operated by the FDNY Retirees of Southeast Florida as a traveling 9/11 memorial. The engine was restored as a tribute to the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001. Its exterior features a recreation of the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance, displaying photographs, names and assigned companies of the fallen firefighters.

Engine 343 serves not only as a memorial to those who lost their lives, but also as an educational tool used to honor their legacy and remind communities of the sacrifices made by first responders on Sept. 11 and in the years that followed.

The FDNY Retirees of Southeast Florida has approximately 130 members and has been active in South Florida for more than four decades. The organization remains committed to preserving the memory and legacy of lives lost on Sept. 11 and educating future generations about the events of that day and their lasting impact. Members regularly bring Engine 343 to schools, community events, and car shows to provide an opportunity for the public to learn, remember, and pay tribute.

David Fischler, an attorney and member of the FDNY Retirees of Southeast Florida, will join the press conference. His legal practice centers on representing people with post-9/11 injuries and illnesses, giving him a unique perspective into the lasting effects of Sept. 11 on first responders and their families.

A Legacy We Must Never Forget

Sept. 11, 2001, changed the fire service and our nation forever. The 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice that day represented courage, duty and an unwavering commitment to protect others. Their legacy continues through the firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, and other first responders who carry that same commitment today.

The impact of Sept. 11 did not end when the towers fell. First responders who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts have continued to face serious health challenges, underscoring the lasting impact of that day.

Engine 343 provides a tangible connection to that history. It gives communities a chance to see the names and faces behind the numbers, hear the stories of those who served and understand why it remains so important to Never Forget.