On Sunday, well over a dozen firefighters from Warrensburg, Johnson County Fire Protection District, and a few others that used to work with them climbed 110 stories at the Town Pavilion high-rise in downtown Kansas City at 12th and Main to honor the 343 New York City firefighters that gave their lives 16 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.

Warrensburg Fire Department
Warrensburg Fire Department
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Warrensburg Fire Chief Jim Kushner said this is the fourth year his men (and women) have attended the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb event along with several hundred other firefighters from the Kansas City area.

"Every firefighter who went, climbed one flight of stairs for each firefighter who died, and there were 343 firefighters killed (that day) and each person climbed 343 flights of stairs in full bunker gear and airpacks to help remember the fallen. They also each had the name of one of the fallen as they walked up the stairs," Chief Kushner said Monday night after the Warrensburg City Council Meeting.

Since 2011, the Kansas City 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb has consistently filled to capacity with 343 firefighters with the help of over 80 departments from eight states, according to kansascitystairclimb.com. Each participant must be employed by a fire department. All must be either a volunteer, paid career, or retired firefighter to participate.​

Warrensburg Fire Department
Warrensburg Fire Department
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