Staffordshire firefighters prepare for 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Atlanta

Firefighters from Staffordshire are preparing to travel to Atlanta in the United States for a memorial event marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

A total of 343 firefighters from the UK and Ireland are due to take part, matching the number of firefighters who lost their lives during the attacks on 11 September 2001. The group will include 10 firefighters from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters at a previous stairclimb event

The firefighters will climb 110 floors, the height of the World Trade Centre towers, as part of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Patriot Day Memorial Climb at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

The event is intended as a tribute to the firefighters who died, while also showing unity between emergency service workers across the world.

As part of preparations, Staffordshire firefighter Bob Mortimer, who is based at Cannock Community Fire Station, will also take part in a memorial stair climb in Southampton on Saturday 11 July 2026.

The Southampton event will take place at St Mary’s Stadium and will see emergency service personnel climb 110 floors in full PPE. The event is described as a multi-agency charity climb for firefighters, police officers, paramedics, NHS workers, coastguard and other emergency service personnel.

Bob said it was an honour to take part in the 9/11 memorial event to mark the 25th anniversary. He said 343 firefighters gave their lives that day and it would be a privilege to complete the climb alongside international colleagues.

He added that the Southampton challenge is a family event and that he will be raising money for charities including The Blue Light Card Foundation and The Fire Fighters Charity.

The wider Atlanta event is raising money for three causes: The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, The Fire Fighters Charity and the Blue Light Card Foundation.

What is the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb?

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a tribute to the emergency responders who lost their lives during the attacks on 11 September 2001.

Participants climb 110 floors to represent the height of the World Trade Centre towers and to honour the 343 firefighters who died that day.