First to Arrive: Firefighters at Ground Zero (Spirit of America, a Nation Responds to the Events of 11 September 2001) PDF
Preview First to Arrive: Firefighters at Ground Zero (Spirit of America, a Nation Responds to the Events of 11 September 2001)
CALL TO RESCUE, CALL TO HEAL Emergency Medical Professionals at Ground Zero FIRST TO ARRIVE Firefighters at Ground Zero GUARDIANS OF SAFETY LawEnforcement at Ground Zero HELPING HANDS ACity and a Nation Lend Their Support at Ground Zero KEEPING THE PEACE The U.S.Military Responds to Terror WE THE PEOPLE The U.S.Government’s United Response Against Terror Firefighters at Ground Zero Alison Turnbull Kelley PHILADELPHIA CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS EDITORINCHIEF Sally Cheney DIRECTOROFPRODUCTION Kim Shinners CREATIVEMANAGER Takeshi Takahashi MANUFACTURINGMANAGER Diann Grasse STAFFFORFIRST TO ARRIVE ASSOCIATEEDITOR Benjamin Xavier Kim PICTURERESEARCHER Sarah Bloom PRODUCTIONASSISTANT Jaimie Winkler COVERANDSERIESDESIGNER Keith Trego LAYOUT 21st CenturyPublishing and Communications,Inc. ©2003 by Chelsea House Publishers, asubsidiaryof Haights Cross Communications. All rights reserved.Printed and bound in the United States of America. http://www.chelseahouse.com First Printing 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kelley,Alison. First to arrive :firefighters at ground zero / Alison Turnbull Kelley. v. cm.—(United we stand) Includes index. Contents:1. Tragedy hits home—2. Early days of firefighting— 3. Firefighting into the 19th century and the great Chicago fire— 4.Becoming a firefighter—5. Smokejumpers,other special firefighters, and canine helpers—6. Today's fire trucks, gear, and clothing— 7. Heroes emerge. ISBN 0-7910-6957-5 1. Fire fighters—Juvenile literature. 2. Fire extinction—Juvenile literature. 3. Fires—Juvenile literature. 4. September 11 Terrorist Attacks,2001—Juvenile literature. [1. Fire fighters. 2. Fire extinction. 3. Fires. 4. September 11 Terrorist Attacks,2001.] I. Title. II. Series. TH9148 .K45 2002 363.37—dc21 2002007867 FOREW0RD 6 by Benjamin Xavier Kim 1 TRAGEDY HITS HOME 9 2 EARLY DAYS OF FIREFIGHTING 13 3 FIREFIGHTING INTO THE 20TH CENTURY 25 AND MAJOR FIRES IN AMERICA 4 BECOMING A FIREFIGHTER 35 5 SMOKEJUMPERS, OTHER SPECIAL 41 FIREFIGHTERS, AND CANINE HELPERS 6 49 TODAY’S FIRE TRUCKS,GEAR,AND CLOTHING 7 HEROES EMERGE 55 FURTHER READING 59 WEBSITES 59 ORGANIZATI0NS AND AGENCIES 60 BIBLIOGRAPHY 62 INDEX 63 Fore word The events of September 11, 2001 will be remembered as one of the most devastating attacks on American soil ever. The terrorist attacks caused not only physical destruction but also shattered America’s sense of safety and security, and highlighted the fact that there were many groups in the world that did not embrace the United States and its far-reaching influence. While things have, for the most part, returned to normal, there is still no escaping the demarcation of life before and after September 11—the newest day that will forever live in infamy. Yet, even in the aftermath of the terror and destruction, one can see some positive effects that have arisen from the attacks. Americans’ interest in foreign countries—especially those where Islam is the predominant religion—and U.S. foreign policy has been at an all-time high. The previously mundane occupations of firefighter, police officer and emergency medical worker have taken on a newfound level of respect due to the heroism and selflessness displayed on September 11.The issue of airport security has finally been taken seriously with 6 FOREWORD 7 the implementation of National Guardsmen in airports and undercover air marshals aboard flights. The books in this series describe how various groups and agencies dealt with the unfolding events of September 11. They also tell the history of these agencies and how they have dealt with other crises in the past, as well as how they are operating in the wake of September 11. While the rest of us were reeling in shock and horror at what was unfolding before our eyes, there were others whose jobs required that they confront the situation head-on. These are their stories. Benjamin Xavier Kim Series Editor The World Trade Center attacks on September 11 were some of the most devastating attacks on American soil, killing approximately 3,000 people. Of these people,345 firefighters perished while trying to save others in the buildings—the highest loss of all emergency personnel who had responded to the scene. 1 Tr a g e d y m e H i t s H o Z ack Fletcher and his twin brother Andre had wanted to be firefighters since they were little boys. Zack joined Engine 4 Ladder Company 15 in lower Manhattan. Andre went through special training and joined Rescue 5 Fire Rescue in Staten Island near New York City. The brothers were the first African-American twins to join the New York Fire Department. On the morning of September 11, Zack was off duty and driving around Brooklyn doing errands when he saw smoke coming from the city. He called his brother Andre, who at that moment was speeding toward the fire. “Be safe,” Zack said. Andre told him not to worry. Meanwhile Zack rushed to his own firehouse about a mile from the World Trade Center (WTC). The trucks had left,so Zack grabbed his gear, threw on his turnout coat, and began to walk toward the burn scene. As he approached the burning towers, the second tower 9
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