Firefighter Apologizes For Lie About Working NYC On 9-11

Just months after participating in a remembrance ceremony marking the 10-year anniversary of 9-11, a man who claimed to be a New York City firefighter on that fateful day has admitted to being a fraud.

Jordan Liflander admitted to 7 On Your Side's Tom Crabtree that he lied about being a member of the Fire Department New York. Liflander is now apologizing for wearing a firefighter’s dress uniform and displaying a F-D-N-Y firefighter's helmet during a ceremony at Wofford College last September 11 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attack.

Liflander was the keynote speaker at the event in which thousands of people attended. Liflander told Crabtree Tuesday evening that he was a member of two volunteer fire departments in New York state and assisted in the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. He said that someone in New York saw an article about him and told other firefighters and it grew from there.   

7 On Your Side Reporter Chris Cato sat down with Liflander Wednesday to discuss the lie he was living about being a captain with Ladder 133 of the NYC Fire Department.

"It was just ego,” Liflander explained.  “Silliness. Trying to fit in and be one of the guys. It just spiraled out of control and became a lie I had to live."

He says the lie started at Cherokee Springs Fire Department where he was a paid volunteer since January of last year until today.  Liflander said he resigned Wednesday morning amidst the controversy.

When asked if he had spoken at other events under false claims, he confessed to two more appearances; one at an elementary school in North Carolina and another, in recent weeks, at a civic club in Spartanburg.

Liflander also owned up to pleading guilty to arson in 1978. He says he set a dumpster on fire while drunk.

Liflander went on to apologize to all FDNY firefighters, especially Ladder 133.  He also apologized to the Spartanburg community and all those he has hurt with his lie.

When reached Tuesday night, one of the organizers of the event, Captain Allen Freeman of the Spartanburg County Detention Center apologized for not knowing about Liflander's lies.

"All my intentions were honorable," Freeman said. "I didn't look into (Liflander's) background. I had no reason to doubt him. At the rehearsal he offered his NYC fireman's helmet, had the uniform, claimed to be a retired fireman. I take responsibility for that. I apologize to you and the citizens of Spartanburg County."

Freeman said that he remembers Liflander shedding a tear during his speech at the service as he spoke about his 9-11 experiences.

A former New York City Fire Department Paramedic, who is on disability and asked to remain anonymous, told 7 On Your Side that he and his friends are disgusted.

"My colleagues and I are completely disgusted," he said. "It's a punch in the face to every firefighter, medic and police officer who worked then and the days after (9-11)."

Crabtree emceed the event at Wofford.