Billy Burke (firefighter)
William Francis Burke Jr. was a Fire Captain with the Fire Department of New York, who died during the September 11 attacks in 2001. Burke died when he chose to stay with stranded civilians, which his colleagues believe he knew would cost him his life.[1]
William Burke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William Francis Burke Jr. 1955 |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 45–46) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Other names | Billy Burke |
| Occupation | firefighter |
| Known for | sacrificing himself on September 11, 2001 |
The September 11 attacks
On September 11, 2001, Burke, the son of a former Deputy Fire Chief,[2] was with his crew inside the North Tower of the World Trade Center, when he encountered Ed Beyea, a paraplegic man he realized could not be evacuated before the building collapsed.[2] Abe Zelmanowitz, a friend of the man, had chosen to stay with him. Burke told a younger firefighter standing by that he would take over, and the younger firefighter should leave.
Fellow Fire Captain Jay Jonas had been with Burke at 9:59 a.m., when they felt their tower shake, as the neighboring South Tower collapsed. He described how they agreed this meant the collapse of their tower was imminent.[3]
Fire Lieutenant Gregg Hansson met Burke for the first time the morning of the attack, and was the last surviving person to see Burke. He has described realizing Burke's decision saved his life. He believed Burke knew the building’s collapse was imminent and knew he was sacrificing his own life.[3]
Legacy
Burke's brother Michael organized an annual climb of One World Trade Center, the replacement for the World Trade Center towers, in memory of Burke and his colleagues.[2][4]
References
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Bob Heleringer (2016-09-06). "9/11: The story of Ed, Abe and Capt. Billy". Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
After the collapse of Tower 2, Burke had ordered his men from Engine 21 out of the North Tower. When they emerged onto the street, they looked back and realized their captain wasn't with them.
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Sean Kirst (2016-05-19). "Nearly 15 years after 9/11, memories linger for family of hero firefighter". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
Amid the chaos on Sept. 11, Billy – a captain with Engine 21 – led the men in his command to the 27th floor of the north tower. Their mission was to evacuate any stragglers. Billy, 46, was searching for civilians when the building shook -- a nauseating sensation -- and he ran to a window and looked outside. The south tower had collapsed, shaking the ground. Billy, whose father had been a deputy fire chief in New York, knew the building where he stood would be next to go.
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Sean Kirst (2011-09-11). "Capt. Billy Burke and a choice made on Sept. 11: 'This is what I do.'". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
Hansson did not expect to find Burke, a captain and a superior officer, with this little group of men. They spoke for a matter of seconds. A decision was made, as much by a nod and body language as by words themselves. Burke assumed command of the civilians, while Hansson and his men resumed their harrowing journey down a stairwell. Hansson is now a captain. What he didn't realize then is always with him now: Billy Burke, he said, sacrificed his own life to save theirs.
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Tamar Lapin (2018-06-03). "World Trade Center climb leads to proposal". New York Post. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports the loved ones of fallen first responders, organized the trek to honor FDNY 9/11 hero Captain Billy Burke. This made the opportunity for a proposal especially meaningful to the Rochester couple.
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External links
- "Rendered by the Flame". The New York Times. September 2001.