Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Rob Gebhart
"September 11 didn't change the way I look at my job. We've always known we have a dangerous job," said Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Rob Gebhart.
More than 300 firefighters were lost in the attacks on Sept. 11, and although most who died were from across the country, Gebhart views them and every other firefighter as a "brother."
"Firefighters have always been a close-knit group. It's a brotherhood," he said.
As Gebhart sat and watched the attacks a feeling of helplessness overcame him.
"Firefighters are the fix-it people. When we get called, we always fix the problem whether the person needs to be taken to a hospital or if we put a fire out," Gebhart said. "We all felt so helpless. We wanted to go look for our brothers in the rubble."
Three years after the attack, Gebhart believes the events of Sept. 11 are constantly on the minds of local firefighters. So much in fact that the new Chehalis Fire Department engine has a memorial to those firefighters lost in the attack.
On the back of the engine is a graphic of a traditional firefighting helmet in red, white and blue. Above the helmet reads "America's Heroes" and below reads "Never Forgotten" with the number 343, the number of firefighters lost in the attack.
Gebhart decided to add the design to the truck after seeing the memorial graphics other fire departments had put on their trucks.
"It was a surprise to everyone who didn't make the trip to Wisconsin (to pick up the truck). They all loved it and thought it was fantastic," said Gebhart.
Although they are across the nation, firefighters in New York and those at the Chehalis Fire Department share the same duties, and thus understand what it takes to be a firefighter.
"Being a firefighter, you have a connection with other firefighters wherever you go. People forget that those firefighters ran into the building knowing they might not make it out," Gebhart said.
Centralia Police Department Sgt. Jim Shannon
"September 11 made me remember how dangerous the world really is," said Centralia Police Department Sgt. Jim Shannon.
As a police department member, Shannon has seen his coworkers display the same type of heroism exhibited by New York policemen during the Sept. 11 attacks.
"I've seen many of my coworkers risk their lives for strangers, and I can understand that mind set. Police at this department risk their lives everyday," said Shannon.
Within the community, Shannon has felt a greater sense of appreciation from those the police help on a daily basis.
On Friday, Shannon received a phone call from a local church wanting to make sure someone would be at the department on Sept. 11 so they could bring over cookies to show appreciation for what is considered a day's work for policemen.
"You have to sacrifice in this job. Yeah, we get a paycheck, but we are a little different than everyone else," said Shannon.
And although the sacrifice for many New York police officers was their life, officers in Centralia have to make sacrifices all the time.
"We miss Thanksgiving, Christmas and soccer games. It is just accepted as a part of the job," said Shannon.
Having spent six years in the military, Shannon also has an appreciation for those in Iraq serving in the military as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The reason why we are safer here is because we took the fight over there instead of them bringing the fight here," he said.
Centralia Fire Department Capt. Tim Adolphsen
"September 11 reminded me that any situation can turn into something extremely dangerous," said Centralia Fire Department Capt. Tim Adolphsen.
This year, Adolphsen attended the memorial at Centralia College, along with other firefighters from the area to remember the attacks on our nation just three years ago.
"Enough years have passed that there wasn't a large turnout. As I firefighter, I think about it every day. It's not a haunting memory, but it is something you have to remember," said Adolphsen.
Although all firefighters realize they have a dangerous job, September 11 reminded the public just how dangerous it could be and how dedicated the men and women who work in the fire department are.
"There is more recognition now. People understand how dangerous our job is and how quickly things can change. They see we put our lives on the line every day," said Adolphsen.
The "brotherhood" of the fire department is something fire fighters experience during their hours at the fire station, and although they may live with one group, firefighters around the world are connected to each other through their daily sacrifice.
"We all face similar problems everyday. We try to stop pain and suffering for the public and help them any way we can," Adolphsen said.
Centralia Fire Department firefighter Jennifer Sexton
"The impact for me as a citizen was such an awareness of what the rest of the world goes through with terrorist attacks," said Centralia firefighter Jennifer Sexton.
Sexton was a volunteer firefighter during the Sept. 11 attacks, but didn't fully understand the impact on the firefighting community until after she was hired at the Centralia Fire Department.
"I worked hard to become a firefighter. I felt the loss of the 343 firefighters more after I was accepted in the family that the fire service is," she said.
Although all of the firefighters lost in the attacks had a family that felt a deep loss, Sexton believes the loss suffered by the firefighting community was just as large and as devastating.
"We are an international family, and the loss to us was just as big as losing someone in a blood family," said Sexton.
Although Sept. 11 brought the heroism of firefighters into the public eye, Sexton believes the public she serves appreciates what firefighters do.
"People in the community always had a sense of what we do for them," she said.
New York firefighters during the Sept. 11 attacks displayed bravery and courage as they ran into the building saving those still inside. The 343 who died serve as an image of what every firefighter strives to do, she said.
"We hope we react with the same bravery and courage. The loss of life could occur during our job, not on the same magnitude, but we could lose people. Hopefully we can bring to the job everyday what those 343 did," she said.
Ashley Forsyth is an intern in The Chronicle's news department. She may be reached by telephoning 807-8257, or by e-mailing intern@chronline.com.
