Volunteer Spotlight - Captain Alfredo Fuentes

New York City Fire Capt. Alfredo Fuentes

As a Knight of Columbus and New York City Fire Department captain, Alfredo Fuentes’ life has been defined by service.

“It is ironic how in the Knights we call each other brothers and in the fire department we call each other brothers – that’s so wonderful, it almost brings me to tears,” says Fuentes.

The morning of September 11th, 2001, Fuentes as acting battalion chief led a contingent of fireboats on a mission to carry away survivors from the burning World Trade Center Towers. In the midst of coordinating rescuers and pulling wounded firefighters from the wreckage in order to speed them to area hospitals, Fuentes himself was caught in the collapsing rubble as he rushed to search for more survivors in the North Tower.

He sustained crushing injuries to his skull, lungs, and ribs and lay pinned beneath a steel girder for over two hours. Fuentes persevered through prayer, finally managing to radio his comrades and lead them to his position and his eventual rescue.

the companionship of his family and his fellow Knights of George W. Hudson Council 3701 of Woodside, New York. Shaped by the experiences of 9/11, Fuentes does not allow his injuries to interfere with his personal commitment to service and love of country.

“There is no doubt that I am a different person from that morning to today,” says Fuentes. “Each one of us is responsible for helping our neighbors. After the life changing event of September 11th, the wisdom of giving back is much brighter (to me).”

No longer a firefighter, he is still devoted to their mission. He is now founder and executive director of the Patriot Group, a nonprofit consulting organization founded in memory of Fuentes’ lost “brothers,” and all emergency responders.

The Patriot Group offers consulting and logistical guidance to underfunded municipalities and governments to modernize and improve their first responder capabilities. The staff, aided by volunteers, consists of active and retired emergency responder specialists. They have offered seminars and consultation services across the nation as well as internationally in countries such as Ireland, Puerto Rico, Thailand and Niger.

Fuentes is also a frequent lecturer on subjects such as supporting emergency responders, patriotism, and service, the values he has exemplified throughout his career.