Fire chief recalls self‑deploying to the Pentagon and urges continued readiness

Fire Chief John Butler recounted his experience on Sept. 11, 2001, telling attendees that he left his post in Maryland, donned turnout gear and raced to assist, later working 'about 12, 14 hours that night' at the Pentagon. Butler described how the reality on scene differed from television coverage and emphasized the importance of training, interagency interoperability and passing lessons to newer generations who were not alive at the time of the attacks.

Butler used a repeated phrase to frame the ethos of responders: "When you're tired, do it tired," which he said captures the commitment of those who kept climbing to rescue others. He urged the county to continue investing in training and readiness so that modern responders are prepared for both routine emergencies and uncommon large‑scale incidents.