‘This is nothing short of a great honor to do:’ Local member of JFRD honors fallen 9/11 firefighters

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — People around the world and in Northeast Florida are still feeling the impacts of 9/11.

Today, the St. Augustine Fire Department held a commemorative ceremony to honor the thousands of lives lost. Here in Jacksonville, a local firefighter is paying tribute beginning with a single step.

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Whether you take a moment of silence, choose to volunteer or donate. We all honor those who died in the 9/11 attacks 21 years ago today in our own special way.

“This is nothing short of a great honor to do,” says Billups.

Jacksonville native and JFRD firefighter Nick Billups is choosing to honor those who died on 9/11 by climbing 110 floors and 2,071 steps in full firefighter gear on a stair climber. The gear adds on an extra 85 pounds.

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“It’s supposed to show that when people are going out we’re going in,” says Billups.

A total of 415 emergency workers lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This includes 343 first responders who are often honored for giving their lives to help others on 9/11 by climbing those 110 stories. That’s the equivalent of the highest point of the world trade center.

“The beginning is great, it’s a lot emotions, let’s get warmed up. The middle, things get tougher and the last one is just you wanting to get through it,” says Billups.

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The 9/11 tragedy taught Nick that he wanted to be someone who could serve and protect which is why he became a YMCA personal trainer and martial arts instructor. But for Nick that wasn’t enough.

“I just get a kick out of helping people and I figured being a firefighter I’d get to help the community,” says Billups.

This is Nick’s 3rd time climbing 110 stories. He’s done it every year since becoming a firefighter and says he plans to keep doing it for as long as God will allow.

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