When you’re already close with your sibling, working in the same career truly makes your bond even stronger. That’s the story of FDNY Firefighters Michael and Abraham Miller, also known as “The Miller Brothers.”
The two grew up on Staten Island watching FDNY Firefighters help the community and are now serving in Harlem as one of those same heroes. Michael works at Ladder 28 and Abraham works nearby at Ladder 23.
“We come from a close-knit family and we were raised to always strive to be the best at whatever we do. Working for the FDNY fits with that because we’re highly trained to go out here and help the city,” said Michael, who became the first Firefighter in his family when he joined in 2014. “I’m glad my brother is here working with me. We’ve started a tradition in our family and it’s a great feeling.”
“If my brother didn’t love this career so much and if I didn’t go to his firehouse so many times while I was a candidate to learn about this job, I probably wouldn’t be working here. We’ve always been close, but working together has made us even closer,” added Abraham. “Becoming a Firefighter is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s really a life-changing career.”
The Millers also became inspired to join the FDNY after seeing so many members go above and beyond to rescue others on September 11, 2001.
“I lived by Rescue 5 and I saw them in the news that day and I will always remember that the FDNY sacrificed so much to help the city during 9/11,” Michael explained. “Seeing that kind of selflessness and drive to help others really motivated me to want to work here as well.”
“I was working in the private industry in Astoria during that time and I saw the towers fall from my office. Just knowing that so many of our members were out there doing all that they could to save others really impacted my life,” Abraham said.
And 19 years later, “The Miller Brothers” are now putting their lives on the line to help the residents and visitors of New York City remain safe.
On Sept. 29, along with members of Ladder 23, Ladder 34 and Squad 41, Abraham also saved a five-year-old child from the sixth-floor of a burning Washington Heights building by completing a roof-rope rescue. A second individual was also brought to safety using a second roof-rope. Michael was off duty that day, but came by the scene to support his younger brother and all of his FDNY family as they described the heroic rescues.
“When it’s someone who needs our help, we just immediately kick into another gear and do what we’re trained to do to help that person,” said Abraham, who joined our Department almost five years ago. “It’s a team effort that happens here to get our job done.”
Ladder 23 Firefighter Abraham Miller, along with members of Ladder 23, Ladder 34 and Squad 41, saved a five-year-old child and another individual from the sixth-floor of a burning Washington Heights building on Sept. 29.
Read more about the heroic rescues here. Learn how you can become a New York City Firefighter here.
