110 flights in full gear: Arlington firefighters honor fallen 9/11 first responders

It took about 70 minutes to climb what would be 110 flights of stairs.

But Scott Simpson and Nick Drummer were not dressed like anyone else in Peru’s Planet Fitness on Wednesday morning.

The pair of Arlington firefighters were dressed in full firefighter gear and with each step paid tribute to those lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 when two jets struck the World Trade Center buildings in New York City.

“We don’t have any 110-floor buildings in this area, so this is the closest we can get,” said Simpson, who prompted his fellow firefighters to take on the task honoring those lost in one of America’s greatest tragedies.

After the planes hit and the towers collapsed, 343 firefighters would lose their lives, along with 60 police officers, eight EMTs and 2,997 civilians. Wednesday’s showing on the stair climber was just one way to pay tribute to those who risked everything to help save others.

Drummer said their gear added up to about 50 extra pounds to carry. But he also said the firefighters in NYC were carrying a lot of extra tools, hose length and other emergency equipment during the 9/11 response.

“This isn’t even close to what they were carrying in the towers,” he said.

Simpson and Drummer wrapped up their efforts before noon Wednesday morning, 18 years after the attacks. But the plan is to do it all again next year, and every year after that.

“It’s going to become a tradition,” Drummer said.

Brett Herrmann can be reached at (815) 220-6933 or bherrmann@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_SpringValley.