Full Breakdown
Ten House Firehouse Marks 25 Years Amid an Ongoing 9/11 Health Legacy
9/10/2026, 7:40:32 AM
Core Event: A Quarter-Century of Service at “Ten House”
The FDNY firehouse known as “Ten House” – home of Engine 10 and Ladder 10 – sits across the intersection from the former World Trade Center site. It was the first firehouse to respond on September 11, 2001, and served as a command center and safe space for exhausted first responders in the days that followed. On August 23, 2026, the rebuilt station was photographed adjacent to the new 9/11 Memorial, underscoring its continued presence as both an active firehouse and a living memorial.
Background & Context
When hijacked jets struck the Twin Towers, Ten House’s crews rushed to Ground Zero. Six of its members were later counted among the 343 New York City firefighters who perished in the towers’ collapse. In the ensuing years the station has become a de-facto part of the 9/11 memorial, drawing daily tourists who pause at the bronze relief listing the fallen firefighters and at the gleaming trucks in the garage.
Key Figures & Groups
- Sal Argano – Ladder 10 veteran, 65, the last firefighter assigned to Ten House in 2001 who remains on duty.
- Capt. Terence Brody – Ladder 10 commander since 2016, former academy cadet on 9/11.
- Robert Favata – Ladder 10 member since 2008, now 46, who witnessed the site’s reconstruction.
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) – nonprofit advocating national cancer-screening standards for firefighters.
- Mayor Mamdani – New York City mayor who announced the public release of historic air-quality documents.
- Steven Banks – City Corporation Counsel who confirmed the city’s early knowledge of hazardous air.
Timeline
- September 11, 2001 – Ten House first responds; six members later die in the collapse.
- 2008 – Robert Favata joins Ladder 10.
- 2026-08-23 – Rebuilt Ten House photographed beside the 9/11 Memorial.
- 2026-06-30 – World Trade Center Health Program reports caring for 145,275 responders and survivors.
- Early September 2026 – City releases previously hidden air-quality records through an online portal.
Data & Statistics
- 343 FDNY firefighters killed on 9/11.
- >400 FDNY members have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses in the 25 years since the attacks.
- 5,892 first responders and nearby residents have died from cancer linked to Ground Zero toxins.
- 145,275 individuals are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program as of June 30, 2026.
- 81,000 of those enrolled have a certified medical condition tied to the attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
Lisa Raggio, CEO of FCSN, noted that “the sacrifice didn’t end on September 11” and that the campaign aims to “change” the absence of firefighter-specific screening standards. Russ Osgood, FCSN’s Chief Education Officer, described the network’s role as “the catalyst” for building rigorous, practical screening recommendations.
What’s Next
FCSN plans to begin rolling out the National Firefighter Cancer Screening Recommendations in 2027 after completing its scientific review. The city’s document portal will continue to add records on a rolling basis, with 9/11 Health Watch monitoring its accuracy through monthly meetings for the next year. Capt. Brody has submitted retirement papers, with his final day scheduled for October 2026, while Sal Argano has indicated he will remain on duty “as long as I can.”
