The New York disaster has unleashed a groundswell of support for York firefighters - but also brought home the dangers of their job. Mike Laycock reports

As the firefighters lined up for our photographer outside York fire station, complete strangers were walking up and thrusting five pound notes in their hands, while passengers on a passing open-top bus began waving and clapping enthusiastically.

It has been like this ever since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre last Tuesday, in which an estimated 300 New York firefighters were killed.

"It has brought it home to people what firefighters do," said station commander Barry Kirkpatrick.

"I personally have had a pub manager coming into my office and putting £200 down on my desk from funds raised in his pub. And I had a JP from the magistrates' courts next door who came in and put £10 on my desk."

Station officer Dick Riley said: "The support has been absolutely phenomenal. It has been unprecedented."

York resident Bridget Stabler, one of those handing over a donation yesterday, said: "I find the tribute they are paying to their counterparts in America very moving. I find it quite emotional really."

But the disaster has also given a stark reminder to the city's firefighters of the kind of dangers they face routinely - and of the extra risks they could now face in North Yorkshire as world tension rises.

"It brings home the risks," said firefighter Richard Hodgson. "Because of our relationship with America, it could happen even here and we could find ourselves in a similar situation dealing with a terrorist incident."

Leading firefighter Jim Lagan said: "It brings home the dangers involved in doing the job." He has faced his fair share of such dangers in 11 years in the service - such as the occasion a burning roof fell on him while he was out dealing with a fire at Rawcliffe. He managed to escape unscathed, although his partner got burnt.

Like everyone else in York, the firefighters were shocked and appalled by the disaster as it unfolded last Tuesday on their TV screens. "It was unbelievable," said one.

But even in their shock, they were still casting a professional eye on the huge problems facing their New York counterparts as they initially sought to rescue people from the high-rise towers.

As soon as the first tower collapsed, the firefighters said they had known there would be substantial loss of life among the firefighters - although the estimated 300 lives lost still leaves them almost reeling in disbelief.

Please send your donation, preferably a cheque, payable to the New York Firefighter Disaster Fund, to Mike Laycock, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York Y01 9YN. Or you can hand it in to our Walmgate, York reception during office hours, or to York Fire Station. Donations must arrive by Friday, September 28. They will be paid straight into the York firefighters appeal account at HSBC bank in Parliament Street.

Updated: 16:05 Friday, September 21, 2001