Following last week's column

about the 9/11 documentary which CBS aired March 10, I received a number

of e-mails which expressed feelings similar to those I was having.

One reader wrote:

"I always assumed that

firefighters were trained to handle any situation that comes along. Until

now. My heart breaks to think of all the lives that were lost that morning

and the families that lost a loved ones.

"I agree with you on the

possibility that more training is needed to make sure all firefighters

are trained to handle such disasters. Where do they draw the line on when

to put their own lives on the line to save lives? Is it known how many

people were actually saved by the firefighters that lost their lives?

If you should find answers to your questions, please pass them to me."

Another reader put it this

way:

"Why would anyone in his

right mind attempt to climb those stairs on such a suicide mission? I

feel certain that in the future there will be a new book written on disaster

rescue."

Then from Captain Mark V. McDonnell

of the Atlanta Fire Department came this response which I now share with

you with his permission.

"Dear Ms Holt:

"The firefighters in New

York City are considered to be the very best of our profession. They enjoy

a long tradition of respect and appreciation from the citizens they serve.

This status insures that they are well equipped, extensively trained,

and that their actions are guided by well prepared and effective operating

procedures. It is widely held, however, that on the job experience and

desire are the most important factors in determining the success of a

fire department. This is the main reason the firefighters in New York

are so highly regarded.

"As competent and prepared

as they are, the crash of a modern airliner into the side of one of the

largest, fully occupied office buildings in the world is a job of horrific

proportions. You must remember that the twin towers had always been deemed

indestructible. The bombing attempt in the early nineties had not succeeded,

and now, here was the latest affront. There were basically two ways to

go. The commander could pull his firefighters back, out of the way of

the falling victims, and assume a defensive posture, hoping the situation

would eventually mitigate itself, or they could put their legacy of experience

and bravery to work for the citizens of New York.

"Standard operating procedures

for high-rise fires in New York City are well established, as was the

pre-fire plan for operations inside the World Trade Center. The fire companies

were very familiar with the buildings. They knew that the elevators did

not run from the ground floor to the top. Instead, the shafts ended into

"sky lobbies" every thirty floors or so, allowing them to safely

approach the fire floors. They knew that the crash had probably destroyed

the sprinkler system, and they knew that even with such mass destruction

to the building, there were still thousands of survivors to be saved.

"The one thing that struck

me when I watched the 9/11 documentary, was the routine way in which all

of the fire companies assembled around the lobby command post, waited

for their assignments, and then set off, without hesitation, to perform

their duties. They had seen the burning victims exit the elevators and

could hear the others hitting the mezzanine outside of the front doors,

but up they went. I feel in my heart that no firefighter or chief officer

really expected to be able to climb all the way to the top, assemble the

needed equipment, and extinguish a fire of such magnitude. Their successes

that day would be to climb as high as their equipment and endurance would

allow and to remove as many as possible from harm's way.

"I often talk to my firefighters

about what I call the 'dilemma of the fire service', to what degree of

personal danger do I subject myself or my crew to in the performance of

our duties. We crawl through dark and dangerous places; we dodge debris

and teeter on the edge of collapse, all in an attempt to save some other

mother's child. We do this with the belief that, with divine guidance

and professionalism, we'll come through relatively unscathed. As for the

events in New York, let no blame be cast for the outcome, but love them

for their attempts.

"Since the events of September

11, 2001, it has been noted that a fundamental change has swept our country,

that basic human values have been reestablished. The gray pool of scattered

loyalties has been frozen crystal clear. I say look into the hearts of

the firefighters, both here and departed, and see what has always been.

Back

to News Home Page |