What must it have been like for firefighters on Sept. 11, 2001?

Retired New York firefighter Rick Doran shared his experience Saturday at the Wagener Fire Department’s 20 year anniversary “Fire Fest.”

The special guest speaker was with Rescue Company #4 of the New York City Fire Department.

He is a 22 year veteran of the FDNY.

He started with the department in 1982 and served with Ladder 128 and Ladder 138 before going over to Rescue Company #4 & Special Operations.

Doran was actually scheduled off the day of the attack.

When he saw what was happening, he immediately got his gear and headed towards the World Trade Center. When he arrived, all he saw was mass destruction and people fleeing

The after effects of the destruction still live with him today.

He said that more than 35,000 people were in the twin towers.

26 were recovered from the rubble after the collapse.

The Fire Department lost 343 firefighters and rescue personal that day. The 1st firefighter who died was killed by someone who jumped out of a window and landed on him.

He never knew what happened.

240 more firefighters and rescue personnel have been lost since that day due to 9/11 medical issues.

Of those, 121 were firefighters, 62 with ladder companies and 5 rescue members.

29,000+ human body parts were recovered and sent to the Coroner’s office for identification.

Doran is 1 of 3 firefighters who Mayor Rudolph Giuliani handed the 1st American Flag to fly over the Ground Zero rubble, which became a famous photo.

Doran has been married to his wife Gail for 46 years, and they have two sons, Mark and Matthew.

Matthew passed away in 2002 from cystic fibrosis.

Mark is a New York City firefighter, after previously served in the Charleston Fire Department in South Carolina.

Doran appeared on the cover of LIFE Magazine’s special commemorative issue “In The Land Of The Free, September 11 — And After.