{"id":416276,"date":"2025-12-01T02:02:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T02:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/416276\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T02:02:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T02:02:33","slug":"fdny-deputy-chief-james-riches-who-searched-ground-zero-for-his-fallen-son-dies-of-9-11-related-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/416276\/","title":{"rendered":"FDNY Deputy Chief James Riches, who searched Ground Zero for his fallen son, dies of 9\/11-related illness"},"content":{"rendered":"

James \u201cJimmy\u201d Riches, an FDNY deputy chief who spent months at Ground Zero in a recovery effort<\/a> to find his firefighter son\u2019s body after the World Trade Center attacks, died from a Sept. 11-related illness on Thanksgiving, the FDNY announced.<\/p>\n

Riches, who retired in 2007, suffered from a lung illness for more than two decades before dying at age 74 on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a great legacy, very respected and loved,\u201d Riches\u2019 son Daniel Riches, who is a retired FDNY captain, told the Daily News.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a great person. He was a great father, great friend. A lot of people reached out to tell us how much they loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n

James RIches spent six months searching through the rubble and debris at Ground Zero for the remains of his son Jimmy Riches, who died heroically responding to the terror attacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went out every day looking for him,\u201d Daniel Riches said.<\/p>\n

\"RitaRita Riches looks at a photo of her son, FDNY Firefighter Jimmy Riches, who died during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, during a news conference in 2007. (AP Photo\/Mary Altaffer)<\/p>\n

Jimmy Riches\u2019 body was later found in March 2002. He was a member of Ladder 114<\/a> in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, but on Sept. 11 he was at Engine Co. 4 in lower Manhattan.<\/p>\n

He died a day before his 30th birthday. A street co-naming sign was later added at the corner of Shore Parkway and Bay Eighth St. in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, dubbing it Jimmy Riches Way, NY1<\/a>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n

James Riches was a vocal advocate for Sept. 11 survivors, joining rallies on Capital Hill to fight the federal government\u2019s attempts to cut 9\/11 health care funding and pushing for a trial for terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.<\/p>\n

\u201cChief Riches walked the halls of Congress with us in 2010 and 2015 and he was intense, he was passionate, and he was committed to the movement. The 9\/11 community lost a voice,\u201d said 9\/11 survivor advocate John Feal. \u201cHe belongs on the Mount Rushmore of the 9\/11 community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riches noticed a trend among many people who worked on the Pile after the 9\/11 attacks \u2014 they were getting dry coughs, bloody noses, spitting up blood, some even getting mercury poisoning \u2014 he told the 9\/11 Memorial & Museum<\/a>\u00a0in an audio interview.<\/p>\n

\"JamesJames and Rita Riches during the funeral for their son, FDNY Firefighter Jimmy Riches, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on April 12, 2002. (Susan Watts \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

He also shared in the interview that in 2005 he had a health scare when he thought he had the flu but noticed his fingernails were turning purple. His blood oxygen level had plunged to one-third of normal. X-rays showed he had double pneumonia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to the emergency room. He looked at my fingernails, listened to my chest. \u2018Get him upstairs to ICU right away,\u2019 \u201d he recalled the doctor saying. \u201cThey X-rayed my chest \u2014 two white lungs, bilateral pneumonia. They ran about 30 lines in my neck, my arms, everything else. They put on the ventilator and that breathed for me. My oxygen level was supposed to be like 99. It was like 30.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FormerFormer FDNY Deputy Chief James Riches speaks at an event organized and hosted by John Feal and the Fealgood Foundation, 9\/11 first responders, family members and supporters during a rally on Capital Hill to address the federal government’s cut in 9\/11 health care funding on Feb. 26, 2008. (Bryan Smith for New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

His health problems continued, Daniel Riches told the Daily News.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past 25 years, he has had a lot of different health issues and it took a toll on him,\u201d the son said. \u201cHe was breathing in all the toxins \u2014 he was suffering from a lot of different illnesses from his work down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FamilyFamily members of 9\/11 victims, from left, Sally Regenhard, mother of FDNY Firefighter Christian Regenhard, FDNY Deputy Chief James Riches, father of FDNY Firefighter Jimmy Riches and Rosemary Cain, mother of FDNY Firefighter George Cain, outside Manhattan Federal Court on March 10, 2014. They were attending the trial of Osama Bin Laden’s son-in-law. (Jefferson Siegel \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

Riches lived in Brooklyn. He served 30 years in the FDNY from August 1977 until his retirement in December 2007, the Uniformed Firefighters Association<\/a> said in a tribute post, hailing his \u201cdistinguished career\u201d that \u201cexemplified the highest traditions of our department.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who didn\u2019t know him should be jealous of those who did know him, because he was the best of the best,\u201d Feal said Sunday. He was a quiet man, but when he opened his mouth, he got your attention. He\u2019s one of the few people that could command everyone\u2019s attention in the room. When he spoke, he was not only heard, he was felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

A funeral is planned for Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick\u2019s Catholic Church on Fourth Ave. in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

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