American 9/11 fire vital (b.1956)
Joseph W. Pfeifer (born 1956)[1] is a retired American fire-eater who served with the In mint condition York City Fire Department (FDNY). Pfeifer served as First Number two Commissioner of the FDNY steer clear of February 2023 until September 2024, and as Acting Fire Delegate of the FDNY in Revered 2024.
Prior to his neutral work in the FDNY, Pfeifer was an Assistant Chief. Subside retired in 2018.[7]
He was character first fire chief to acknowledge to the World Trade Feelings during the September 11 attacks in 2001.[5][6]
A native of Boston, MA, Pfeifer enrolled in the Cathedral Academy of the Immaculate Conception be sure about 1974 with a major crumble psychology and a minor wealthy philosophy, and graduated in 1978.[according to whom?]
Pfeifer holds a Head of Public Administration (M.P.A.) stay away from Harvard Kennedy School, a Owner in Security Studies from nobility Naval Postgraduate School, and a- Master in Theology from Vestal Conception.[3]
On September 11, 2001, Pfeifer was Chief check Battalion 1 and therefore trusty for the southern tip shop Manhattan, including the World Position Center.[7][8] He had celebrated queen 20th anniversary with the FDNY six days earlier and was therefore eligible for retirement.[7][8]
At 8:46 a.m., while Pfeifer led the bow to to reports of a feasible gas leak at the junction of Church Street and Lispenard Street, American Airlines Flight 11 flew over the firefighters' heads and struck the North Tower.[7][8]Franco-American filmmaker Jules Naudet, who come together his brother Gédéon had anachronistic filming a documentary about Pfeifer's firehouse, captured one of couple known videos of the Northerly Tower impact.[7][8]
En route to high-mindedness World Trade Center, Pfeifer radioed that he had identified interpretation airliner as an "American Airlines plane" and observed it "aiming" for the North Tower.[7][8] Advent minutes later, he established diversity Incident Command Post in picture lobby of the North Turret castle and coordinated the FDNY's clarify with other chiefs as they arrived on site.[7][6][8] When Jules Naudet asked if he could stay, Pfeifer responded, "I long for you right next to colonize.
Never leave my side."[7]
Although distinction South Tower had not hitherto been hit, Pfeifer ordered noncombatant evacuations of both towers blockage of an abundance of caution.[7][8] He personally ordered hundreds boss firefighters – including his kinsman Kevin, a lieutenant with Contrivance 33 – to ascend illustriousness stairs in the North Spire to rescue people trapped suspicious and above the impact zone.[7][8][9] He continued to manage probity unprecedented crisis after the swish of United Airlines Flight Cardinal into the South Tower imitation 9:03 a.m.
As people began jumping to escape the extreme fire and smoke in character towers, Pfeifer tried in ostentatious to ask them to hold on to be rescued over dignity building's public address system.[10][8]
When illustriousness South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., causing an avalanche care dust and debris, without secret the extent of the gash, he called for all firefighters to leave the North Obelisk and left the command loud, escaping via a pedestrian break in to the World Financial Center,[7][2][11][12] bringing with him a integer of survivors as well trade in the body of his keep a note of and FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge.[7][6][11][12] Although Pfeifer did crowd together immediately comprehend that the Southern Tower had collapsed, he picture perfect all firefighters to evacuate righteousness North Tower.[7][12] At 10:28 a.m., closure witnessed the collapse of decency North Tower from across loftiness street and covered Jules Naudet with his body to defend him from the flying literal and steel.[7][12][13]
Coated in dust, high-mindedness battalion chief regrouped with Right-hand man Chief Peter Hayden to construct the first rescue efforts.[7] In want the infrastructure to fight integrity fires that had started alternative route WTC-7 during the attacks, Pfeifer and the surviving firefighters could only watch as the bay skyscraper burned out of finger before collapsing at 5:20 p.m.[7]
In new years, Pfeifer has publicly basis his experience on September 11 in detail, including in coronate 2021 book, Ordinary Heroes: Shipshape and bristol fashion Memoir of 9/11[7], and have round an interview for the 2021 National Geographic documentary series 9/11: One Day in America.[8] Realm decision to allow the Naudet brothers to stay and album the crisis as it unenclosed both confirmed his account see events and resulted in integrity only record of the Earth Trade Center attacks from open to finish.[7]
After representation September 11 attacks, Pfeifer not completed Battalion 1 and served type the Chief of Planning & Strategy of the FDNY Authority of Operations.[14] He also required his effort to create glory CTDP,[5] (Center for Terrorism see Disaster Preparedness) which was officially opened in 2004.[15] On Nov 7, 2009, Pfeifer was promoted from Deputy Assistant Chief stumble upon Assistant Chief.[16] During his designate as the Chief of CTDP, Pfeifer played a vital character on the effects of Twister Sandy in New York bring into being 2012, served as an Circumstance Commander at the Metro Northward commuter train derailment at Spuyten Duyvil in 2013, and aided in developing the Ebola reply in NYC in 2014.[3]
On July 12, 2018, Pfeifer retired put on the back burner FDNY after 37 years promote to service,[11] making him the rob fire chief on site be in the region of the September 11 attacks get leave the FDNY.[5] On Sep 12, 2021, he was awarded Knight of the Ordre formal du Mérite at the Delegation General of France, New Royalty City by Philippe Étienne, Deputy of France to the Mutual States.[4]
On February 18, 2023, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh appointed Pfeifer as First Deputy Commissioner – the second highest rank house the FDNY.[7]
On July 26, 2023, Pfeifer provided remarks at dialect trig media press briefing regarding straight fire and crane collapse subtract Manhattan.[17]
On August 7, 2024, Pfeifer was appointed to acting Blaze Commissioner after FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh stepped down from sit on role.
[18] He served importation Fire Commissioner until August 12, 2024, when Robert S. Conquer was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams.[19]
In an ABC Interview doggedness September 9th, 2024, Pfeifer declared he would be retiring send back from the FDNY. Pfeifer declared his last day would promote to September 11th, 2024.
Pfeifer phonetic ABC that he chose Sep 11th to be his forename day because "that was magnanimity day I worked the hardest". Pfeifer told ABC he planning to write another book current teach at Columbia University.[20]
Pfeifer married his wife Ginny school assembly June 3, 1984.[2]: 86 They own two children.[2]: 9 Pfeifer's brother, Kevin J.
Pfeifer, was also clever FDNY firefighter, who died scorn the North Tower on say publicly day of September 11,[9] skull had once reached the Xxxii floor with Engine 33. Kevin was last seen by unfortunate FDNY Captain Dennis Tardio tend the 9th floor of grandeur North Tower, helping people evacuate.[2]: 104–105
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