Photo by Teresa Sargeant
Key Points
- Christopher Lenahan grew up in a family of firefighters and pursued the career after his uncle, an FDNY Rescue 4 firefighter, died in a hardware store explosion in 2001.
- Lenahan has served the Apopka Fire Department since about 2010 and values serving the community.
- He participates in 9/11 commemorative events in New York and encourages educating younger generations about the attacks and their aftermath.
Apopka Fire Department engineer Christopher Lenahan grew up around the fire service, with generations of firefighters in his family. His decision to follow that path was solidified when his uncle, a New York City Fire Department Rescue 4 firefighter, was killed in a hardware storeexplosion three months before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Lenahan, a Florida native who has served in the fire service since about 2010, said what he enjoys most about serving Apopka is simple: “The people.”
His family’s ties to New York and the FDNY have given Sept. 11 particular meaning. Over the years, Lenahan has traveled to New York to participate in 9/11 commemorative events and represent the department.
Twenty-five years later, he emphasizes teaching younger generations about the attacks and what followed.
“The education of never forgetting,” Lenahan said.