VIDEO: The 9/11 victim’s compensation fund has been a hot topic in Congress this week after the bipartisan legislation was temporarily delayed, in part due to Utah Sen. Mike Lee.
It’s an issue that doesn’t just impact first responders from New York.
There were 62 local firefighters who were deployed to New York City, serving on Utah’s Task Force One. Out of those 62, nearly 50% have health issues that can be attributed to the conditions at ground zero.
Like many of us, Salt Lake City Fire Captain Bob Silverthorne remembers where he was on Sept. 11, 2001.
“I watched the second plane as it was happening,” said Silverthorne.
However, unlike most, he responded, arriving at ground zero less than a week after the infamous terrorist attack.
“Searching voids, removing debris, trying to find any sort of human remains. I think at the time, we didn`t realize it at all. If we did, we would`ve been protected better,” said Silverthorne.