Firehouse 54-4
Dedicated to the men of Engine 54/Ladder4/Battalion 9
The day starts out quiet for Firehouse 54-4. At about 8:46 a.m.
on 911, a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.
They knew they were going to the big one. At about 9:03 a.m.,
the second plane hits. Thousands of people were trapped.
Ladder 4 was off duty but they volunteered to come in.
When Firehouse 54-4 got into a fire, they wanted to come out
100% and when they come out of that fire, they wanted to win
that battle.
Nine-Eleven was the fire that they have all trained for. The
factor they controlled everything was the inability to get to
people on higher floors.
They had a plan to evacuate the survivors. They tried but
could not do it even though they are very imitative when
put on the spot. Then a message was given that the building
was going to collapse.
The South Tower collapsed and a wall of smoke filled the area.
Thirty minutes later the North Tower fell. Survivors were covered
with soot. The towers had a pancake collapse. This event happens
when the weight of the building is compromised.
Minutes after the towers fell, alarms went off so the firefighters
could find each other. The 15 men from Firehouse 54-4 that rushed
to help in the 911 disaster did not survive this terror attack.
About 343 firefighters lost their lives that day. The children of the 15
firefighters were about 28 who now don’t have a father. Only seven
of the 15 firefighter’s bodies were recovered. The firehouse had the
honor of bringing them home through a wall of their firefighters
saluting them as they were put in the ambulance.
“If you don’t make light of a tragic event, you can go to pieces.”
Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 is a rolling reminder of their legacy today.
Copyright 2006 by Florence Wiggins & ilovepoetry.com
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