Fire departments across Sask. commemorate Firefighters' National Memorial Day

The Regina Fire and Protective Services marked Firefighters National Memorial Day with half mast flags and a moment of silence. (Courtesy: Regina Fire Twitter)

Fire departments from across Saskatchewan took to social media on Sunday to commemorate Firefighters' National Memorial Day.

The event is not celebrated on a set date, but rather on the second Sunday of Sept.

This year’s memorial coincided with the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

According to the 9/11 commission, 343 firefighters lost their lives on the day of the attacks, making it the single most deadly incident for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).

The firefighters lost that day were memorialized in the messages from Saskatchewan’s various emergency services.

The Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS) lowered all station flags to half mast and observed a moment of silence in remembrance for those lost.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) also commemorated the event with flags flying at half mast. The Saskatoon Firefighters Union IAFF 80 also plans to observe the memorial with a private ceremony Sunday evening, according to a news release from the City of Saskatoon.

The Yorkton Professional Firefighters Association Local 1527 also released a memorial message, in remembrance for those lost during 9/11 in New York City.

The Ministry of Public Safety Canada released a statement Sunday, thanking emergency responders for their service and underscoring the importance of the annual memorial.

“Every day, Canadian firefighters bring remarkable expertise, passion, courage, and commitment to a dangerous, but vital job – one that all Canadians rely on,” Minister of Public Safety Canada Bill Blair said in the statement.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, and a grateful nation, I offer Canada’s firefighters my deepest thanks.”