- December 4, 2025
Ormond Beach firefighter Braden Hansard takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach firefighters organize their gear ahead of the the 9/11 memorial stair climb at the Marina Grande on the Halifax condominiums. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Fire Capt. Hunter Ramirez speaks during the ceremony for the 9/11 memorial stair climb on Thursday, Sept. 11. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach firefighter Evan Loveless starts putting on his gear. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Driver Engineer Robert Zalewski (right) gears up for the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sixteen firefighters took part in this year's 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Ormond Beach Fire Department and local officials: City Commissioner Lori Tolland (sixth from left) and Florida Rep. Bill Partington (center). Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Driver Engineer Robert Zalewski and his son, Gunnar. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach firefighters enter the Marina Grande on the Halifax condominiums to begin the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Hunter Ramirez (right) speaks to firefighters before beginning the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Capt. Nick Nates, firefighter Braden Hansard and probationary firefighter Jack Reynolds listen to instructions ahead of the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Hunter Ramirez explains how the 9/11 memorial stair climb will be organized. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighters listen to instruction during the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Driver Engineer Robert Zalewski heads toward the stairs for the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Hunter Ramirez takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach probationary firefighter Drake Goodman takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach probationary firefighter Ben Lloyd takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Nick Nates reaches the 25th floor and prepares to descend during the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Matt Barbados, with the Orlando International Airport Fire Department, reaches the 25th floor and begins to descend during the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach probationary firefighter Clayton Carn takes a breather during the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach firefighters Evan Loveless and R.L. Durham (right) take part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Autumn Zalewski and son Gunnar take part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach probationary firefighter Ben Lloyd takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Fire Capt. Dan Brands takes part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
One-hundred-and-ten flights. Sixteen local firefighters.
Thursday, Sept. 11, marked the 24th anniversary since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. To pay tribute to the 2,996 people who died that day in the World Trade Center — a figure that includes 343 New York City firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers — the Ormond Beach Fire Department held a memorial stair climb at the Marina Grande on the Halifax condominiums.
"Twenty-four years ago, the most horrific terrorist attacks in U.S. history happened," said Ormond Beach Fire Capt. Hunter Ramirez, who organizes the stair climb every year. "...Three-hundred-forty-three people went into the building that day knowing there was a chance that they may not come out."
The firefighters, dressed in their gear, climbed 110 flights, the same number NYC firefighters had to during the 9/11 attacks in the twin towers.
"We're going to feel just a small portion of what those firefighters felt that day," Ramirez said.
