Correct.
The south tower (2nd to be hit) collapsed first.
Which also meant that many of those firefighter's killed were from outlying companies from other boroughs. The french documentary of the probie (downtown company) had ALL of their firefighters return to the station (even though they were a first arriving company and thus in the north tower), the last one back at the station was the probie, who many thought had died in the collapse. Later alarm(s) arriving companies went into and up the south tower and died when it collapsed and fell first.
For those saying that many joining now wouldn't or don't act like those killed on 9/11, there is some small truth to that.
Some join for the benefits, some for the time off, others for some whatever reason.
But many, if not MOST, that I saw come into my FD after 9/11, I think there was a greater understanding of what was expected (putting others before self) and what could happen to you on while on the job. Those that didn't or don't understand that, you try and weed them out as much as you can. Unfortunately, some still get in and remain in the profession.
Maybe not so much knowing you are going to , but KNOWING that there is a distinct possibility of it. You have to put trust in yourself, your crew, your training, and those that are leading you to get you through.
My dad and mom called me on 9/12.
Even though I had worked in the Fire Service for 13 years, I believe that was the first time they realized what I did for a living (when I became a firefighter, they were just happy that I was no longer jumping out of "perfectly good" military aircraft).
My dad asked me a direct question of "Why did they go into the towers?" And my answer was that is what you are supposed to do. They went in to get as many (ALL) of the people that they could save, and to put the fires out.
It was then, and still is the expectation.