More than 60 members of the FDNY were promoted Wednesday, including a battalion chief whose first day on the job was the day of the September 11th attacks. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

It's been an exciting end of the year for Jason Cascone. Three months ago, he welcomed his first child, baby Jason, to the world. And on Wednesday, he was promoted from Fire Department captain to battalion chief.  

Fourteen years ago, Cascone began his career on the department's darkest day. On the morning of September 11, 2001, he had yet to report to his new firehouse, Engine 33 and Ladder 9 in downtown Manhattan, when the planes hit the towers.

He immediately raced in, but by the time he made it down to the World Trade Center site, both towers had fallen and nine members of his new firehouse had been killed.

"It was a very, very tough time to come into the department, but it taught me a lot of about the department and helped me grow up and come of age," Cascone said.

For his parents, it was a stark reminder that their son had chosen a dangerous career.

"I was in total shock, something that I never really got over because by order, he was supposed to be in the firehouse that day but was called back to the academy for further training," said Remo Cascone, Jason's father.

Cascone was one of 62 members of the fire department promoted Wednesday. Commissioner Daniel Nigro says the department has never had more work to do.

"This year, we will reach another record high for responses, surpassing more than 1.6 million incidents, making the FDNY far and away the best and busiest fire department in the country," Nigro said.

Those elevated included a set of brothers: Kevin Murphy of Ladder Company 16, promoted to batallion chief, and Battalion Chief Sean Murphy, Battalion 8.

For Jason Cascone, entering the department on September 11, 2001 only solidified his resolve to be a firefighter.

"There was never any doubt, never for any moment, that this is what I was destined to do, and 9/11 would never change that," he said.

In his new role, he'll be responsible not just for keeping the public safe every day, but for bringing his own men and women home safely every night.