Cherry Hill firefighters regularly train for building collapses and special operations rescues, a shift driven by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Before that day, the township had no collapse training at all, Lt. Sean D. Carlin of the Cherry Hill Fire Department told 6abc in a report published Tuesday, Sept. 8.

"New York, Philly, they all had collapse training. Cherry Hill, we didn't have any of that before 9/11," Carlin said.

At the department's Central Command, agencies from across Camden County gather for joint training exercises. Crews use aluminum struts to stabilize damaged structures during collapse responses. Carlin described the struts as the "bread and butter" tool for that work. Teams also wear respiratory protection during operations, a change from pre-9/11 practices.

Carlin said newer equipment lets crews enter buildings, search for victims and maintain structural stability more effectively than older timber-based methods.

The 25th anniversary of the attacks falls Friday, Sept. 11. Residents can reach the Cherry Hill Fire Department at 856-665-1881 for emergency preparedness information.