A Quarter-Century After 9/11, One Veteran Firefighter Remains at Historic 'Ten House'

Nearly a quarter of a century after hijacked airliners destroyed the World Trade Center and reshaped Lower Manhattan, Sal Argano continues to report for regular duty at the firehouse situated directly across the intersection from Ground Zero. At 65 years old, Argano holds the distinction of being the sole remaining firefighter stationed at the facility who was on the roster on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Argano’s presence today is the result of a fortunate twist of fate on that catastrophic morning. When the Twin Towers were struck, the veteran New York City firefighter was on temporary rotation at a firehouse in Brooklyn rather than at his regular Manhattan post. After learning of the unfolding disaster, he rushed downtown to assist, only to discover his home station heavily damaged by falling debris but remarkably still standing.

The tragedy took an immense emotional and physical toll on the company. Six firefighters from the station were among the 343 members of the Fire Department of the City of New York who lost their lives in the collapse of the towers. Decades later, Argano continues to contemplate the circumstances of his survival, knowing that had he not been assigned to Brooklyn that morning, he likely would have perished alongside his crew.

Known throughout the department and the surrounding community as "Ten House," the station houses both Engine 10 and Ladder 10. Positioned along the perimeter of the former disaster site, the firehouse balances two distinct identities: it remains a fully operational, high-tempo emergency facility while simultaneously functioning as a living monument and a de facto extension of the nearby memorial plaza.

Daily crowds of domestic and international tourists regularly gather outside the station's garage bays. Many stop specifically to view the massive bronze relief installed on the exterior of the building, which honors the departmental personnel killed during the 2001 attacks. Others pause to take photographs as they walk past the gleaming red apparatus of Engine 10 and Ladder 10 en route to the National September 11 Memorial across the street.

Serving in the firehouse requires an appreciation for its unique public prominence. Capt. Terence Brody, who commands Ladder 10 and has been assigned to the station since 2016, emphasizes that members must embrace their public-facing role. Brody, now 55, explains that because the firehouse is recognized around the globe, people continually stop by to express gratitude and connect with the firefighters on duty.

Brody vividly remembers the day that defined the station's legacy. Still a cadet in the fire academy on September 11, he and his fellow trainees were quickly issued gear and bused directly into Lower Manhattan. He recalls the surreal contrast between the crisp, sunny morning and the apocalyptic scene at Ground Zero, where pulverized debris hung so heavily in the atmosphere that it resembled falling snow.

During the days following the catastrophe, Ten House took on critical secondary roles. The battered building served as an emergency command center and provided a much-needed refuge where physically and emotionally exhausted first responders could rest and regroup amid the ongoing search and recovery efforts.

As the years passed, the station’s personnel observed the extensive reconstruction of the neighborhood firsthand. Firefighter Robert Favata joined Ladder 10 in 2008 straight from the academy, during an era when the site across the street was still an enormous, active construction excavation. Now 46, Favata reflects on how daunting the rebuilding process once appeared and how dramatically the surrounding landscape has been revived.

The once-vacant expanse has since been transformed into a world-renowned commemorative space. A pair of massive reflecting pools now occupy the original footprints of the fallen towers, framed by parapets inscribed with the names of nearly 3,000 victims.

Beneath the plaza, the 9/11 Museum displays structural artifacts, including mangled steel beams and a crushed fire engine, while new skyscrapers rise above the district. The physical rebirth has provided a permanent setting for remembering the individuals who died, including early casualties such as Daniel Suhr, the first firefighter confirmed killed during the response.

The station also serves as a global gathering point for the wider firefighting community. Visiting first responders, including international volunteers and career personnel from abroad, frequently stop by Ten House during visits to New York to pay homage to the fallen and meet the active crews.

Through every stage of the neighborhood's recovery, Argano has maintained his post. By continuing to serve at Ten House decades after the disaster, the veteran firefighter provides an enduring, living connection between the department's darkest hour and the rebuilt community that surrounds it today.