COVINGTON — Buddy Wheatley figures there wasn't a firefighter in Northern Kentucky who wanted to stay home after watching the World Trade Center towers tumble on Sept. 11.

        “When that happened,” said Mr. Wheatley, a Covington firefighter, “even firefighters from 1,000 miles away had almost a sense of guilt because they couldn't do anything to help.

        “But every one of us, those who do this for a living, would have gladly gone up there,” he said.

        The tragedy took the lives of 343 firefighters.

        And since local firefighters were unable to leave their own posts and homes to help their bretheren, they are taking steps to assist the families of the deceased.

        Covington is joining 10 other Northern Kentucky fire departments in holding a Nov. 9 benefit dance at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington. Tickets are $20 each, with all the proceeds going to the 9-11 Fire Department Disaster Relief Fund, which Mr. Wheatley described as the only fund exclusively for firefighters and their families.

        Also involved are fire departments from Newport, Florence, Fort Thomas, Independence, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Elsmere, Wilder, Bellevue/Dayton, Hebron and Central Campbell County.

        Tickets can be purchased in advance and at the door, if the event is not sold out. The dance will be from 7 p.m. to midnight.

        Food and drinks will be available. Music will be provided by two area bands, “Funky Town” and “The Night Life.” And WEBN radio morning show hosts Eddie Fingers and Bob The Producer will emcee.

        “We don't think we are going to have any problem selling 3,000 tickets,” Mr. Wheatley said. “But we are still looking for sponsors and donations of food and drink.”

        For more information, to purchase tickets or to make a donation call(513) 383-6136 or (513) 383-6224. Donations can also be made at the firehouses of any of the participating departments.

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