Once more to Ground Zero

Once more to Ground Zero
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Oct. 6, 2002

Mike Hurley is heading back to New York City this week to help close one of the most horrific chapters in the history of his profession.
Hurley, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters local 323, the union representing the Burnaby Fire Department, will be in the Big Apple to attend the formal memorial service to pay homage to the 343 FDNY members who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre towers last fall.
He and 47 of his colleagues from Burnaby will be among 50,000 firefighters from across the continent to attend the Saturday event, which marks the third time Burnaby firefighters have traveled to NYC since the attacks.
Hurley said the many journeys have created a special bond between the two fire departments.
"With this trip, a total of 109 of our guys have gone to New York and they made friendships with a lot of the firefighters there," said Hurley, who has his own story of camaraderie with his colleagues from the other side of the continent.
As president of the local union, Hurley has been on all three trips to New York, in addition to helping to host a return exchange when 21 FDNY survivors came to B.C. on a skiing trip to Whistler last winter.
During these many travels, Hurley became especially close to three FDNY members. "One of the guys I know was a member of a six-man crew, and they were all killed except for him," Hurley said. "He's suffering from survivor guilt. His captain was killed by someone who jumped. And that's just how his day started.
"He was the truck driver who stayed with the truck manning the lines when the rest of his crew went inside the building. He is trying to work his way back, but ....
"If you talk to any of the firefighters from New York, you'll learn that story is not unique," he said.
The relationship between the Burnaby and New York fire departments began last fall, when the FDNY started holding funeral services to honour their fallen members. At the time, there was a real concern that the sheer number of funerals would just add more trauma to the lives of the surviving firefighters.
"We asked New York what we could do, and what they really wanted was personal support."
During his two earlier trips to New York, Hurley and other Burnaby firefighters attended up to 10 funerals per day. During the services, the local firefighters met many of the orphaned children of the fallen FDNY members, including babies born in the months immediately after the disaster.
"What drew most of us was the fact that we have our own kids and here were 980 firefighters' kids who don't have their own fathers anymore,
"It's always tough when you're dealing with kids," he said.
When Hurley put out the call for help, he was amazed by the response. Counting this week's trip, a total of 109 Burnaby firefighters - almost one-third of the entire department - will have made a trip to New York.
And the overwhelming show of support has been recognized in the Big Apple. Last winter, when the FDNY members were in town for their ski trip to Whistler, the Burnaby firefighters were presented with a limited edition print commemorating their fallen colleagues.
The picture features the face of the Rev. Mychel Judge, chaplain of the FDNY who died inside the collapsing towers while giving last rites to a fallen firefighter. The rest of the frame is filled with a picture of the ruined site and the faces of the 343 firefighters who died.
As far as Hurley knows, the Burnaby fire department was the first detachment outside of New York City to receive a copy of the print, which hangs in a place of honour inside of the Metrotown fire hall #3, this city's busiest fire hall.