FDNY Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9

Not only are we in the Theatre District but we are in Hell’s Kitchen, one of New York’s unique neighborhoods. If you are working in one of the theatres, you are in this neighborhood six days a week. Many artists and crew actually DO live in this neighborhood. You get to know the letter carrier, the corner grocer, the cops, the fire fighters…they are your neighbors. Which brings us to Engine 54, Ladder 4. Battalion 9. These firefighters watch out for us. They keep these old theatres from burning to the ground. On September 11, 2001, they were some of the very first responders to the World Trade Center. Fifteen firefighters from this station answered the call and not a single one came back. It was the hardest hit firehouse that day and the only one to have an entire shift killed. It was a devastating blow to the neighborhood and to the theatrical community. There is no way to express our gratitude to these men and women.

On 9/11, NY ground to a halt. All the theatres were dark that night and Wednesday. On the 13th, The Broadway League got a very strong message from the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor that the Mayor wanted Broadway open as quickly as possible. Not only for the economic factors but primarily for the psychological benefits to a city in shock and grief. When Broadway is dark, the city has lost its soul. Mayor Giuliani understood that if people could see that the shows were running, they would understand that New York would survive. The terrorists would have lost. The shows reopened on September 13th and was one of the first steps toward getting back to normal.