“Billy Blazes,” a product of Fisher-Price, was expected to help raise money for fire prevention.
And a real-life New York firefighter who had helped negotiate the arrangement, Lt. Joe Torrillo, had every intention of showing up at the glitzy rollout on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. But Torrillo never made it to the press conference.
The story of the fire lieutenant, who was rescued from the rubble of one tower only to be trapped again following the second tower's collapse, has been heard at venues across the country in the 20 years since the terrorist attacks.
On Thursday, Torrillo’s account anchored an elaborate remembrance project that has immersed Ponaganset High School students in the events of Sept. 11, 2001.