[prev] Tue, 16 Aug 2005 00:12:37 -0400 [next] [life] - [comment]
This past Friday, the New York Fire Department released several thousand pages of 'after action' interviews with NYFD members and EMT's who participated in the rescue efforts on September 11th. In my understanding, this is something of an unprecedented event; the release was the end result of a lawsuit (PDF, 72K) brought against the city of New York by the New York Times under the FOIA.
As I have a substantial emotional investment in the events of that day, as do many, I wasn't immediately sure that I would read any of the released reports, or listen to any of the recordings. Part of me wants to know every detail of what happened regarding emergency services' operations that day. What went right? Where were the failures, and could they have been avoided?
There is another part of me that avoids discussing the topic completely; part of my subconscious that automatically causes my stomach to turn on mention or thought of the attacks on September 11th. The amazing thing is, I wasn't even there. I was over 200 miles away. I could have only imagined what it must have been like to be there, until last Friday. Now, to a very small extent, I know.
I debated over reading the interview transcripts for a few moments. Some of them have a note associated with them, regarding what the individual was doing that day, or what position they held. I scrolled down the list of names, not expecting to recognize anyone. I read a few; one of an EMT who busted her ass all day, while others waited at hospitals or command posts because that's "what they were told to do"; another interview of an EMT who was ferrying the wounded from outside of Ground Zero to a nearby hospital. Their stories were not particularly graphic; they explained what they had been doing in concise, but clear, detail.
As I said, I only read a few of the interviews; those that had notes attached to them or those that were suggested by others. I reached the near end of the list, and one name jumped out at me.
Williams, Daniel Lieutenant (F.D.N.Y.)Dan Williams? Ladder 16 Dan Williams? Now, to be fair, he had always been "Mr. Williams" to me. I was in Boy Scouts with his son, also named Daniel, when I was much younger. Everybody knew that Mr. Williams worked for the Fire Department; I recall seeing him on the news one afternoon chiding the residents of New York for breaking open fire hydrants during a particularly hot summer week.
I was surprised to recently find out that the Department now hands out special nozzle attachments for fire hydrants to create a sprinkler effect.
After determining that this transcript (PDF, 20K) was indeed an interview with Mr. Williams, I was compelled to read it. I recall him being a very eloquent speaker when the situation demanded it, but I also recall him being very crazy; once he spilled a cast iron skillet filled with bacon grease on a campfire, with the disclaimer: "Don't ever do this."
Quite obvious from the beginning of the interview, this was one of his more reserved moments. His description goes in to fine detail, that of his movements and actions that day. After reading his accounts, I felt a large amount of pride for what he did. Although I only knew him for a short time, and haven't spoken to him in many years, I couldn't help but be impressed by his ability to keep a cool head and lead his fellow firefighters to do the best job they could, given the circumstances.
I'm somewhat embarrassed that I didn't know he was there, and the only reason I found out any of this was because the city was forced to release the information. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about that. I'm not sure how anyone can find fault with the city or FDNY. Sure, the Department has contingencies for high-rise fires, but this was no ordinary fire nor no ordinary high-rise. After reading only a few of these interviews, it really seems that all those involved did the best they could, and it's really unfair to ask anything more than that.
Damn straight.