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Joseph W. Pfeifer
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Joseph W. Pfeifer
Joseph W. Pfeifer (born 1956) is a retired American firefighter who served with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Pfeifer served as First Deputy Commissioner of the FDNY from February 2023 until September 2024, and as Acting Fire Commissioner of the FDNY in August 2024. Prior to his civilian work in the FDNY, Pfeifer was an Assistant Chief. He retired in 2018.
He was the first fire chief to respond to the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Pfeifer enrolled in the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in 1974 with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy, and graduated in 1978.[according to whom?]
Pfeifer holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master in Theology from Immaculate Conception.
On September 11, 2001, Pfeifer was Chief of Battalion 1 and therefore responsible for the southern tip of Manhattan, including the World Trade Center. He had celebrated his 20th anniversary with the FDNY six days earlier and was therefore eligible for retirement.
At 8:46 a.m., while Pfeifer led the response to reports of a possible gas leak at the intersection of Church Street and Lispenard Street, American Airlines Flight 11 flew over the firefighters' heads and struck the North Tower. Franco-American filmmaker Jules Naudet, who with his brother Gédéon had been filming a documentary about Pfeifer's firehouse, captured one of three known videos of the North Tower impact.
En route to the World Trade Center, Pfeifer radioed that he had identified the airliner as an "American Airlines plane" and observed it "aiming" for the North Tower. Arriving minutes later, he established an Incident Command Post in the lobby of the North Tower and coordinated the FDNY's response with other chiefs as they arrived on site. When Jules Naudet asked if he could stay, Pfeifer responded, "I want you right next to me. Never leave my side."
Although the South Tower had not yet been hit, Pfeifer ordered civilian evacuations of both towers out of an abundance of caution. He personally ordered hundreds of firefighters – including his brother Kevin, a lieutenant with Engine 33 – to ascend the stairs in the North Tower to rescue people trapped at and above the impact zone. That was the last time he ever saw his brother. He continued to manage the unprecedented crisis after the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. As people began jumping to escape the intense fire and smoke in the towers, Pfeifer tried in vain to ask them to wait to be rescued over the building's public address system.
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Joseph W. Pfeifer
Joseph W. Pfeifer (born 1956) is a retired American firefighter who served with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Pfeifer served as First Deputy Commissioner of the FDNY from February 2023 until September 2024, and as Acting Fire Commissioner of the FDNY in August 2024. Prior to his civilian work in the FDNY, Pfeifer was an Assistant Chief. He retired in 2018.
He was the first fire chief to respond to the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Pfeifer enrolled in the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in 1974 with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy, and graduated in 1978.[according to whom?]
Pfeifer holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master in Theology from Immaculate Conception.
On September 11, 2001, Pfeifer was Chief of Battalion 1 and therefore responsible for the southern tip of Manhattan, including the World Trade Center. He had celebrated his 20th anniversary with the FDNY six days earlier and was therefore eligible for retirement.
At 8:46 a.m., while Pfeifer led the response to reports of a possible gas leak at the intersection of Church Street and Lispenard Street, American Airlines Flight 11 flew over the firefighters' heads and struck the North Tower. Franco-American filmmaker Jules Naudet, who with his brother Gédéon had been filming a documentary about Pfeifer's firehouse, captured one of three known videos of the North Tower impact.
En route to the World Trade Center, Pfeifer radioed that he had identified the airliner as an "American Airlines plane" and observed it "aiming" for the North Tower. Arriving minutes later, he established an Incident Command Post in the lobby of the North Tower and coordinated the FDNY's response with other chiefs as they arrived on site. When Jules Naudet asked if he could stay, Pfeifer responded, "I want you right next to me. Never leave my side."
Although the South Tower had not yet been hit, Pfeifer ordered civilian evacuations of both towers out of an abundance of caution. He personally ordered hundreds of firefighters – including his brother Kevin, a lieutenant with Engine 33 – to ascend the stairs in the North Tower to rescue people trapped at and above the impact zone. That was the last time he ever saw his brother. He continued to manage the unprecedented crisis after the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. As people began jumping to escape the intense fire and smoke in the towers, Pfeifer tried in vain to ask them to wait to be rescued over the building's public address system.
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