Local firefighters climb Stone Mountain in honor of 9/11 heroes

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Local firefighters hiked Tuesday to the top of Stone Mountain in honor of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Today marks 17 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

[PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta remembers lives lost on  9/11, 17 years later]

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach met firefighters with the City of Fayetteville Fire Department at Stone Mountain before their climb in full firefighting gear.

The climb was one of several 9/11 events around metro Atlanta.

[PHOTOS: 9/11, a country, world mourn]

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The climb began four years ago, with just four firefighters from the Fayetteville Fire Department.

This year, there were more than 30 firefighters, including 20 firefighters from Fayetteville, which is nearly half of its department.

They were joined by firefighters from Henry, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties to remembering the 343 firefighters killed in the attacks in New York City.

They climbed to the summit of Stone Mountain, symbolizing the 110 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center.

“We’re not going to forget, so we want to thank everybody for coming out today and supporting us. (It was a) great climb and (brought) the brotherhood and sisterhood together. That’s what it’s all about,” Fayetteville Fire Chief Keith Harris said.

Cox Media Group