The Harrison Fire Department is mourning one of its longest-serving members after officials say a veteran firefighter’s work at Ground Zero ultimately cost him his life.
Kenneth J. Fusco, a 45-year member of the Harrison Fire Department who worked at the World Trade Center site after the Sept. 11 attacks, died on Monday of illnesses that officials say were linked to his service at Ground Zero. The department said Fusco assisted in rescue and recovery efforts after the 2001 attacks and that his death will be honored as a line-of-duty loss.
Chief Hails A ‘Pillar’ Of Harrison
Fire Chief John Masciola said Fusco “will not only be remembered for his bravery on 9/11, but for his lifetime of service, mentorship and brotherhood,” calling him “a pillar in the Harrison community,” according to ABC7 New York. The department said Fusco served for 45 years and that officials believe toxins he inhaled at Ground Zero ultimately led to his death.
Push To Protect 9/11 Responders’ Health Care
In the wake of Fusco’s passing, Masciola urged that the World Trade Center Health Program remain fully funded so responders can continue to receive the care he said they earned and deserve. His call comes after Congress moved this year to secure permanent funding for the program.
Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand praised the FY2026 appropriations action as eliminating future funding cliffs for the program and said it will protect monitoring and treatment for 9/11 responders and survivors, according to Sen. Schumer.
The Long Shadow Of Ground Zero
The toll from toxic exposure at Ground Zero is still unfolding. Roughly 152,000 people are currently enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, and thousands of responders and survivors have fallen ill in the years since the attacks, according to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum…