LaPointe said he felt compelled to head to New York after seeing the attacks unfold.
"I just knew right away. I felt it in my heart that I had to go there to see what that story was and to tell what I saw as a story to people who are willing to see," LaPointe said.
LaPointe loaded his equipment into his Crown Victoria and drove to New York, eventually parking two blocks from Ground Zero. As he arrived, he said uncertainty still hung over the area.
"I realized as I pulled up, smoke is pouring. People are trying to figure out what is actually still going on because anything could happen," he said.
LaPointe spent two weeks at Ground Zero, sleeping in his car during part of that time. After encountering Chicago firefighters several days into his stay, he decided to focus his reporting on their role in the recovery effort.
Among those firefighters was Crowley, who volunteered to assist at Ground Zero when he was 27 years old and just two years into his career with the Chicago Fire Department.
"We arrived at night, so there were work lights everywhere, illuminating the smoke coming from the crater. It was a war zone, and we knew right then in that moment we were at war," Crowley said.
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As recovery efforts continued, Crowley said the reality of the situation became clear.
"Once we were there for a couple of days, we realized that this was truly a recovery, that transition was a hard, hard realization to make," he said.
Crowley said firefighters continued to work relentlessly despite that realization, holding onto hope of finding survivors. Hundreds of Chicago firefighters volunteered their time, while LaPointe's video documented them resting, sleeping and eating on New York City sidewalks between shifts.
"They went in there without any hesitation, and that just makes you understand what this fire department really means to the city, and why we should always make sure that we support these guys," LaPointe said.
LaPointe and Crowley said their shared experience created a lasting bond.
"I know that he had the same experience that I did. It changes your life," LaPointe said.
Crowley said the experience left a lasting impression on those who responded.
"I think everyone that came back from 9/11 came back determined to make a better community, determined to be better firefighters, and definitely determined to show strength in the face of such cowardice," he said.
Both men said they continue to carry the emotional impact of their time at Ground Zero and have no regrets about making the trip to help in the aftermath of the attacks.
Chicago firefighter remembers 9/11 Ground Zero experience
More CFD firefighters who traveled to New York to help are also remembering the events 25 years later.
Deputy District Chief Kelly Burns was just five years into the job as a firefighter when he and his platoon were sent to New York to help wherever they could.
"I wish I had a better story to tell you about about. You know, it wasn't a success story at all. I mean, it was just devastation. I mean, and that's what I think the most shocking thing to me when I got there is I couldn't believe the size of it all, the scope of it all," Burns said.
It was it was depressing because there were no happy stories.
Meanwhile, the country was at a standstill, and Chicago was bracing for a threat. Sears Tower was evacuated. Hancock Center, evacuated. and all of the federal buildings shutdown. Burns says he was happy to help, but a feeling haunted him.
"I don't know, I, it was it was a haunting feeling again, that being home during that time and and that I don't know if I can give that justice where I, I just thought about our city here," Burns said. "But I just, there was a side of me that felt like, man, we should be. We should be home instead of, instead of here."
But, they pushed through their concerns for the Windy City to help their fellow firefighters.
Twenty-five years later, the consequences of that day did not end when the smoke cleared. Thousands of responders and survivors have faced long-term health consequences tied to their exposure at Ground Zero and hundreds of families are still mourning those they lost.