Powys firefighters to take part in 9/11 25th anniversary

Firefighters from across the UK will take part in a memorial stair climb honouring firefighters and emergency service workers who lost their lives in the line of duty during what has become known universally as 9/11 – when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York, as well as the Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, on September 11, 2001.

The group from Powys will be nine of 343 firefighters from across the UK standing together in memory of the 343 firefighters who tragically lost their lives responding to the events of that devastating day – which claimed the lives of 2,966 people.

Stephen, pictured in action this week during a wildfire in the Glascwm area, near Builth. (Image: Supplied)

They will climb the equivalent of 110 floors, matching the height of the World Trade Centre towers, with the memorial event being staged at Truist Park, the home of Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.

Among the Powys crew who will be taking part is Stephen Ratcliffe, the crew manager at Hay-on-Wye Fire Station.

“It’s exciting and it’s overwhelming to have been selected,” said Stephen, 58, who is entering his 40th year as a firefighter with the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Stephen heads out to Georgia next Thursday, September 3, and is honoured to have been selected for the challenge, which will see firefighters don full kit and take on the memorial climb in temperatures in the mid-30s

Stephen, who attended a recent trial run in Southampton, has been a firefighter for 39 years, and was in the service 25 years ago.

“Everyone knows where they were on September 11, 2001,” said Stephen, who remembers stopping in Newtown and watching the news unfold on television screens in shops, as he and wife Teresa were on their way home from North Wales, where he’d been competing in a half Ironman event.

“We were coming back from North Wales, we were heading towards Newtown when we heard on the radio.

“We stopped to get fuel and watched it on TVs in the shops. Other people there were doing the same. We were watching it on screens outside the shop window, while our children played in the car.”

“Everyone knows where they were on September 11, 2001,” said Stephen,. (Image: Supplied)

Stephen has been supremely busy this month, as scores of wildfires have broken out around Powys during the recent dry weather.

And, he said attending incidents like in Glascwm, near Builth Wells, this week have been a real asset in terms of training.

Those taking part will be helping to raise funds for three charities – the Fire Fighters Charity, Blue Light Card Foundation and the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, which supports US firefighters and their families.

Stephen, who attended a recent trial run in Southampton, has completed many charity challenges, and previously ran to all of Powys’ 18 fire stations, covering 260 miles in less than a week, about 20 years ago.

Also joining him will be Oli Tziros and Becky Barden, of Presteigne Fire Station.

“This September, Becky and Oli from Presteigne Fire Station will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to take part in a memorial stair climb honouring firefighters and emergency service workers who lost their lives in the line of duty during 9/11,” said the station.

“They will be part of 343 firefighters from across the UK, standing together in memory of the 343 firefighters who tragically lost their lives responding to the events of September 11, 2001.

Among the Powys crew who will be taking part is Stephen Ratcliffe, the crew manager at Hay-on-Wye Fire Station. (Image: Supplied)

“They are aiming to raise £2,000+ in support of incredible charities, helping provide vital care and support to those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.

“Every donation, share and message of support means a huge amount.

“Please help us get behind Becky and Oli as they take on this incredible challenge and turn remembrance into real support for our emergency service community.”

To donate to either Stephen’s or Becky and Oli’s fundraisers, visit https://shorturl.at/8g40m and https://shorturl.at/cxJvK.