A Quarter-Century After 9/11, Firefighter Sal Argano Remains the Last Active Veteran at FDNY’s Ten House

Standing just across the street from the site where the World Trade Center once stood, the New York City firehouse known as Ten House remains an enduring landmark of resilience. Today, 65-year-old firefighter Sal Argano serves as the station's sole remaining link to that fateful morning nearly twenty-five years ago. Of all the firefighters who were assigned to the facility on Sept. 11, 2001, Argano is the only one who continues to work active duty at the firehouse.

His survival that morning came down to a matter of chance. When hijacked commercial airliners slammed into the twin towers, Argano was not stationed at his standard post directly opposite the complex. Instead, he was working across the East River in Brooklyn, having been temporarily assigned on rotation to another company. That brief operational detour placed him away from the immediate catastrophe that unfolded at his home station's doorstep.

Upon learning of the catastrophe, Argano quickly made his way downtown toward Lower Manhattan to rejoin his unit. When he arrived, he found the Ten House station house battered and severely damaged from the nearby impacts and structural falls, yet the structure remained upright. Amid the chaos and mounting devastation, the full toll on his firehouse family slowly became apparent.

In the aftermath of the collapse, Argano learned that six members of Ten House had lost their lives during the rescue efforts. Those six colleagues were part of the catastrophic loss of 343 New York City Fire Department members who died while responding to the towers. The realization of how close he came to being in the buildings alongside them has stayed with Argano ever since.

Reflecting on that morning, Argano acknowledged that had he not been sent away on rotation to Brooklyn, he most likely would not have survived the disaster. He noted that the thought of that narrow escape and the memory of the comrades who died in the line of duty remains constantly on his mind as he continues his daily duties at the firehouse.

Nearly a quarter of a century later, Ten House occupies a unique position within the city’s emergency network. The facility still houses Engine 10 and Ladder 10, responding to urgent service calls throughout Lower Manhattan. However, its immediate proximity to Ground Zero has also transformed it into a de facto memorial and a prominent stop for everyday visitors seeking to pay their respects.

Crowds of pedestrians and travelers pass by the station each day on their way to the National September 11 Memorial plaza. Many stop along the exterior of the building to view a large bronze memorial relief that lists the names of the fallen firefighters who perished in the disaster. Others pause outside the open bay doors to capture photographs of the gleaming apparatus inside.

The location frequently welcomes first responders from across the country and around the globe. Visitors have included international peers such as Laurent Cosenefroy, a volunteer firefighter from France who stopped by the station on his birthday to greet the crew. For Argano and the rest of the company, these interactions are an ongoing element of everyday firehouse life.

Capt. Terence Brody, who commands Ladder 10 and has been stationed at Ten House since 2016, emphasized that serving in this particular company requires a special willingness to interact with the public. Brody noted that because the firehouse is recognized globally, individuals from around the world frequently arrive at the doorstep eager to express their gratitude and share a greeting.

Brody, now 55 years old, possesses his own memories of the September 11 response. On that morning, he was still an aspiring firefighter undergoing training at the fire academy. Trainees quickly gathered their protective turnout gear and were transported by bus straight to Ground Zero to assist with the unfolding catastrophe.

Upon arriving at the scene, Brody encountered a surreal and disorienting environment. The sheer volume of airborne debris and pulverized material was so dense that it resembled falling snow. He recalled how a clear, sunny Tuesday morning was abruptly replaced by an apocalyptic atmosphere, describing the immediate experience at Ground Zero as overwhelming.

During the critical days and weeks following the attacks, Ten House took on vital logistical importance. While its personnel coped with profound grief, the damaged building was converted into a key operational command center and provided a much-needed shelter where exhausted rescue workers could regroup amid the ongoing recovery operations.

As time passed, the station’s firefighters also held a front-row seat to the gradual reconstruction of Lower Manhattan. Ladder 10 firefighter Robert Favata arrived at the company in 2008, joining the ranks directly after graduating from the academy. At that time, the surrounding perimeter was defined by a massive excavation site filled with ongoing construction machinery.

Favata, now 46, has seen that barren void develop into the modern memorial complex that stands today. The site now features two large cascading waterfall pools set within the original footprints of the twin towers. These granite parapets are inscribed with the names of nearly 3,000 individuals who were killed in the attacks.

Beneath the plaza grounds, the subterranean 9/11 Museum now preserves preserved historical remnants, including twisted structural steel beams and a crushed fire engine. Rising above the memorial space, a ring of newly constructed modern skyscrapers has reshaped the skyline of Lower Manhattan.

Observing the fully rebuilt plaza, Favata recalled how difficult it was in the early years to envision the area ever reaching completion. Now, with the memorial fully realized and the surrounding neighborhood bustling, Sal Argano continues to report for duty at Ten House, maintaining an enduring presence that bridges the station's tragic history with its modern-day service.