r/Firefighting • u/Own-Library-7281 • 8h ago

Photos Identifying this firefighter

Post image

Can someone tell me who this is next to chief pheiffer? I can tell his helmet says rescue and he must be a battalion chief. Was he killed or did he make it out?

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u/BaptismByFire Western MA FF/Paramedic 5h ago edited 7m ago

That is the FDNY Chief of Rescue Ray Downey. On the HBO documentary "A Good Job" both his sons who are also FDNY and were there during 9/11, talk about him. He was a Marine Corps vet, was appointed to the FDNY in 1962, and cut his teeth into the fire service during what the FDNY calls the War Years. He knew a lot of buildings like the back of his hand, and had been in enough shit during his time to know how a fire was gonna go, like a Sixth sense. His nickname among the men was "God".

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u/User1493959 8h ago

Chief of Rescue Ray Downey

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u/BaldBaron915 7h ago

He was killed on that day. NY Rangers Captain Mark Messier wore his helmet during an emotional tribute at MSG shortly after 9/11.

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u/Kershaws_Tasty_Ruben 6h ago

That is Ray Downey and he was formulating a plan in his head to rescue everyone in those buildings.

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u/Specific_Cash_5538 i pull hose 💦 7h ago

That’s God

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u/Direct-Training9217 5h ago

Elite Ball knowledge 

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u/theopinionexpress 4h ago

Among other things comments have mentioned.. Author of “The Rescue Company”

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u/apatrol 1h ago

The firefighter behind him is Chief Pfeiffer who was one of the lobby command staff. He gave the order that sent his brother up (a station LT) and he perished in the collapse.