Last Updated 1 week by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — More than 36,000 firefighters from around the world have descended right here in Indianapolis for their annual Fire Department Instructors Conference.
Firefighters from 51 countries are showcasing the latest fire safety techniques and tools including robots, drones, and tracking systems, and attending classes and listening to speakers.
News 8 first reported on the conference on Thursday’s “Daybreak.”
Aside from educating each other, the conference is also about coming together as a community. Conference director David Rhodes said, “Firefighters are universal even right down to the jokes. … You make lifelong friends here and sometimes you only see them here.”
News 8 caught up with retired New York City Firefighter Tim Brown, who survived the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. He recalls the day his brothers and sisters went up the Twin Towers. He says what they sacrificed, what they chose was the greatest act of love.
“They went forward. They went up to save lives of people they didn’t know,” Brown said as he turned and looked around the roomful of firefighters at the conference. “And all these people you see here have all taken that oath to protect their community at the risk of their own lives.”
Rita Reith, a spokesperson for Indianapolis Fire Department, said the host city will benefit the most. “We are getting information and best practices and training and knowledge in all the things that come with that from everyone we can.”
The largest firefighter conference in the world will wrap on Saturday.