These are amazing men who fight extremely dangerous fires in multistory buildings on a daily basis.
Even before September 11, anywhere from 1-4 or more per year would perish in the course of his duties.
Some of them are on the arson squad and carry weapons, chasing down arsonists and occasionally getting into gun battles with them.
God bless the NYC Fire Department, the only City institution that all New Yorkers have always respected and admired.