9-11, give me a break.

[abaris]

Maybe I'm reading you wrong, but it seems to me we're in agreement, except for this one small point.

I think so. My point is that even in joining the emergency services you're not in for putting your life on the line for the sake of others. At least where I got my training it was rather discouraged to do that. In order to not turn you into a dead hero, and in order to preserve you and your experience to help others.

So, yes, I think by going up the blazing towers, they were heroes. They lost their lives not only in the line of duty but outside of that line. I don't know about your training, but in our corner of the world the usual approach would be to bring the fire under control and then enter to see who could be saved.

And let me add that the term hero is something I rarely use. Only reserved for people who try to save others.