ANDY GELLER and ANDY SOLTIS
Courtesy of The New York Post

NEW YORK, New York -- The remains of 12 more Sept. 11 victims - including Chief Donald Burns, one of the highest-ranking FDNY officials to die in the attack - were recovered yesterday. Remains of six other firefighters, three people believed to be FDNY members and two civilians, were discovered between late Wednesday and late yesterday, said Fire Department spokesman Mike Prendergast. They were not immediately identified.

Burns, 61, the department's citywide tour commander, had set up a command center in the World Trade Center's south tower just minutes before it collapsed.

His remains, found along with personal possessions, were identified by using dental records, fire officials said.

Burns, who lived in Nissoquogue, L.I., was decorated five times during his 39-year career and served in four of the five boroughs.

He was promoted to captain and later lieutenant before being named chief of operations shortly after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

He was promoted to citywide tour commander in 1997.

At his funeral last October, Burns was fondly remembered as a "walking encyclopedia" for his vast knowledge of the city.

"Chief Burns was the most intelligent man I had ever met," said Deputy Assistant Chief Albert Turi. "He knew more about New York than anyone - the location of any alarm box and every street in every borough."

Burns is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and three children, Lori; Michael, a Suffolk County police officer; and Patrick, a firefighter with Ladder Co. 123 in Brooklyn.