Nearly twenty-five years after hijacked jets struck the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, firefighter Sal Argano remains on duty at Ten House, the small Manhattan firehouse stationed directly across from the twin towers, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Sal Argano and the Legacy of Ten House
Sal Argano got lucky on Sept. 11, 2001. When hijacked jets struck the World Trade Center, the New York City firefighter was in Brooklyn on loan to another station rather than at his usual post at the Manhattan firehouse just across the intersection from the twin towers, according to the sources. He rushed downtown to find the firehouse badly damaged but still standing, and later learned that six of its members were among the 343 New York City firefighters killed in the collapse. “If I wasn’t sent out on rotation there would have been a good chance I would not be here today,” Argano says. “I think about that all the time.” Almost 25 years later, Argano, now 65, is still on duty at the firehouse as the last of the firefighters assigned there in 2001 who still works there.
Today, crews at the firehouse respond to emergency calls but also serve as a de-facto part of the 9/11 memorial, visited by crowds of tourists daily. Visitors frequently pause by the large bronze relief along the side of the building listing the fallen firefighters or take selfies on their way to the National 9/11 Memorial plaza across the street, drawn by the sight of Engine 10 and Ladder 10, the gleaming trucks sitting in the garage that give the station its nickname: Ten House. Captain Terence Brody, who commands Ladder 10 and has worked at the station since 2016, notes the public nature of the assignment. “This is definitely one of those companies where if you don’t want to ingratiate yourself to the public, it’s definitely not the right place,” Brody says. “People around the world know this firehouse. They’re going to come by and say hello.”
Role During and After the Attacks
Captain Brody, now 55, was still in the fire academy on Sept. 11, 2001, when cadets grabbed their gear and were bused to ground zero. Debris hung so thickly in the air around the fallen towers that it looked like it was snowing, creating an apocalyptic atmosphere on a sunny Tuesday, according to Brody. In the days following the attack, Ten House served as both command center and safe space for weary first responders. Over the ensuing years, the crew watched the surrounding landscape transform dramatically. Robert Favata joined Ladder 10 in 2008, fresh out of the academy. In those early years, he worked beside a giant hole teeming with construction activity. Now 46, he looks out at a transformed landscape where a pair of waterfall pools sit in the footprint of the old towers, ringed by parapets etched with the names of nearly 3,000 victims, while below ground the 9/11 Museum houses mangled steel beams, a destroyed fire truck and other artifacts. “When I got here, there was nothing,” Favata says. “I never thought they were gonna finish.”
Daily Life and Public Engagement at Ten House
Argano can be found most days perched near the station’s open bay doors, patiently answering questions, shaking hands and posing for photos. He says Ten House firefighters have a unique charge: they’re both living testimonials to the events of 9/11 as well as public faces of the centuries-old FDNY. Argano says he tries to impress on younger firefighters — many increasingly not even born before the attacks — the importance of treating every visitor with respect. “This is not like any other firehouse,” he said. “We have our fire duty, we have our responses, and then we have a responsibility toward the people outside.” Managing relentless crowds can prove challenging for younger crew members, who sometimes keep a lower profile. After responding to an early morning call this particular day, most of the crew heads to the back of the station to stow their gear or upstairs to help prepare lunch, while Argano meanwhile chats up a firefighter from France and his wife and then invites them into the station, pointing to a wall of patches from fire departments across the world that have been gifted over the years, as well as the well-worn helmets hanging in the rafters.
Did You Know? Sal Argano drives Engine 10 and remains on duty at Ten House at age 65, making him the last of the firefighters assigned there in 2001 who still works there.
Future Outlook and Approaching Milestone
As the approaching 25th anniversary arrives, members of the Ten House crew face impending transitions. Favata considers the approaching 25th anniversary as likely one of his last before retirement, expressing emotional concern over whether he’s done enough to keep the memories of Ten House alive. Brody, meanwhile, handed in his retirement papers Tuesday. His last day will be in October after beginning his career right across the street. Meanwhile, Argano, who drives Engine 10, isn’t quite ready to pack it in. He fears something will be lost when no one is there who still remembers. “I’m not done. I’m gonna be here as long as I can,” Argano said. “I’m going to keep telling them what I know, what I saw, what I’ve been through. Telling them the history of this firehouse. Everything I can remember.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ten House located?
Ten House is located in Manhattan just across an intersection from the twin towers, housing Engine 10 and Ladder 10.
What role did Ten House play on September 11, 2001?
Six members of the station were among the 343 New York City firefighters killed in the World Trade Center’s collapse. In the days after the attack, Ten House served as both command center and safe space for weary first responders.
Who is Sal Argano?
Sal Argano is a 65-year-old New York City firefighter who drives Engine 10 and is the last of the firefighters assigned there in 2001 who still works there.
How do you think historic fire stations like Ten House can best balance emergency response duties with their role as public memorials?
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