Fire Chief Ronald Spadafora, who led the New York Fire Department’s (FDNY) efforts at Ground Zero, died Saturday of cancer related to the destruction at the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Spadafora, who was 63, was the 178th member of the department to die of illness related to the World Trade Center, a FDNY statement confirmed. He supervised the entire rescue-and-recovery operation as World Trade Center Chief of Safety.
“In his extraordinary career, he fought fires in all five boroughs, improved training for every FDNY member, and as the Chief of Fire Prevention for the last eight years, Ron’s dedication and leadership led to greater safety and protection for millions of New Yorkers,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in the statement.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted his condolences on Saturday.
For forty years, @FDNY Chief Ronald R. Spadafora’s courage saved countless lives. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to express our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the FDNY. https://t.co/ZnyByZzAfE
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 23, 2018
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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