Ottawa firefighters Steve Carmichael and Gordie Thorpe traveled back to New York City on September 10, 2026, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The veteran responders, who were part of the initial wave of assistance in 2001, revisited the site to reflect on their harrowing experiences and the enduring impact of the tragedy.
The first bus to the 2001 disaster zone
The journey for the Ottawa crew began under high-tension circumstances during the initial chaos of the attacks. As reported by CTV's Katie Griffin, the group of 25 firefighters arrived on the very first bus permitted to enter the disaster zone.. The trip was not without friction; a checkpoint officer initially attempted to block the route, claiming the path was obstructed. However, the veteran driver successfully argued that the crew was prepared and capable of proceeding safely, eventually securing clearance to move forward into the heart of the crisis.
Upon arrival, the reality of the situation became immediately apparent to the responders. Steve Carmichael described the environment as a "war zone," characterized by a chaotic landscape of fleeing civilians and those still trapped in the wreckage . Gordie Thorpe recalled seeing buildings reduced to mere skeletons of dust and broken glass, with smoke and debris still smoldering below. the intensity of the moment was underscored by the sight of victims being recovered from the site, a memory that has stayed with the men for two and a half decades.
A Connecticut student's note in an Ottawa scrapbook
A deeply personal connection to the tragedy has been preserved within the Ottawa crew's records for twenty-five years . The report highlights a thank-you note written by Justin Trzaski, a Connecticut student at the time of the attacks. This piece of correspondence has served as a tangible link between the Canadian responders and the American community they assisted. Trzaski, who has since transitioned from a volunteer firefighter to a state trooper with the Connecticut State Police, expressed that receiving the note back was an emotional experience.
The impact of this exchange extends to Trzaski's family as well.. His mother, Chief Jim Trzaski, noted that the return of the letter felt as though the interaction had "just came full circle." This small act of gratitude highlights the human element that persists even in the wake of massive geopolitical and humanitarian disasters. For the Ottawa firefighters, the note is more than just paper; it is a symbol of the compassion shared between nations during their darkest hour.
The 2013 Twin Towers steel donation to Ottawa
The bond between the two cities is physically represented in Ottawa through commemorative artifacts. In 2013, Ottawa Fire Services received a donation of steel from the Twin Towers, a gesture that serves as a permanent memorial to the fallen. this connection was previously recognized on a national level when the crew's return to Parliament Hill was honored by former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who presented them with a plaque.
These physical tokens—the steel, the plaque, and the scrapbook—act as educational tools for the next generation of emergency responders. By maintaining these items, the Ottawa Fire Services ensures that the lessons of 2001 are not lost to time. As Gordie Thorpe noted, the crew continues to discuss the events because they carry a colective desire to ensure such a catastrophe never occurs again.
The unanswered weight of the 'unseen' firefighters
While the reporting focuses heavily on the themes of gratitude and remembrance, certain aspects of the responders' experience remain shrouded in the trauma of the moment. The source mentions a haunting realization during a moment of silence,where two firefighters realized they had not seen each other's faces and could not confirm if their colleagues were still alive. the specific identities of those individuals and the full extent of the psychological impact on that specific subset of the crew remain unaddressed in the public account.
Furthermore, the report primarily captures the perspective of the veteran firefighters and their families. While it illustrates the strength of the Canadian-American bond, it leaves open the question of how the broader Ottawa Fire Services community has integrated these specific memories into their modern training and mental health protocols. The "war zone" described by Carmichael is a lived reality that continues to resonate, even if the full depth of its impact is only known to those who were on that first bus.
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