The number of New York City firefighters who have died of a 9/11-related illness has now reached 200.
Retired Firefighter Richard Driscoll, who died Wednesday, became the 200th Fire Department member to die from inhaling the toxins swirling around the Twin Towers nearly 18 years ago, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.
His death occurred a day after retired FDNY Firefighter Kevin Nolan died of a 9/11-related illness Tuesday, the News reported. Nolan will be buried Saturday.
"It is almost incomprehensible that after losing 343 members on Sept. 11, we have now had 200 more FDNY members die due to World Trade Center illness," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told the News.
"These heroes gave their lives bravely fighting to rescue and recover others. We will never forget them."
Their deaths come as lawmakers advance a bill to authorize funding for the Sept. 11, 2001, victims compensation fund through 2090. The House passed legislation, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked a vote in the Senate, saying it was too expensive.
The Senate is expected to pass the bill before it recesses Aug. 2, The Hill reported.
"Rest in peace, firefighters Richard Driscoll and Kevin Nolan," Democratic New York Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted. "200 members of the FDNY have now succumbed to WTC-related illness. They didn't hesitate to run into danger. They stayed until the work was done."
According to the News, 90,000 first responders from the city and across the country showed up at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attack, while an additional 400,000 survivors lived and worked in the area at the time. All of these people have the potential to come down with a 9/11 illness.