FDNY Dispatch Tapes from 9/11
Friday, August 12, 2005
New York, NY –
WNYC has put together excerpts of the tapes.
NOTE: The audio of the dispatch tapes is no longer available. We apologize for the inconvenience.
First Alert
Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer was just north of the towers and saw American Airlines Flight 11 crash into the north tower of the World Trade Center. His report starts at 8:46:43 a.m. on September 11, 2001 -- three seconds after the plane hit. It includes his very early, and obviously accurate, speculation that this was a terrorist attack. Chief Pfeifer survived the 9/11 attacks.
Collapse and Confusion
At the time of the South Tower collapse at 9:59 a.m., FDNY's Manhattan firefighter frequency, heard here, is jammed with so many people talking that no communication gets through. Then, personnel on a Fire Department boat -- Marine 3 -- alerts dispatchers to what they say is a partial collapse. Another boat confirms a full collapse.
Eerie Silence, Dispatchers' Calm
Seven minutes after the South Tower collapsed, a dispatcher working to coordinate the response from Central Park tried repeatedly to contact anyone at that tower, particularly at the Command Post, he calls "Field-Comm." Getting no response, he calmly works to find another way to get information so he can direct help to the right places.
Comments [4]
Thanks Chris. I am currently home injuried from a resent fall. Just came across this note. Sorry I never got back to you. Never Forget, your support is appreciated.
George,
I hope you check back in here. I know it's now just past the 9th anniversary, but I listen to these tapes each year for the same reason. The tapes are available to stream and download on archive.org, using the following link:
http://www.archive.org/details/911_fdny_dispatches
Thank you for everything you did that day. I'm always in awe at the poise and level-headed communications captured in these tapes, during an unspeakably horrible experience and with major communication issues to boot.
I will always remember the 343.
George,
I've had a hard time finding those tapes too, but if you go to Audible, which I believe is a division of Amazon you can download 2 hours and 26 minutes of the tapes, starting with BC Pfeifer calling in the initial report of the crash and the request for a second alarm. It is a copy made from the master tape, by a dispatcher shortly after 9/11. I myself am looking to find a list of the 343, along with their unit assignments. I used to be able to find it online, but it's hard to now. Any ideas George? Also, is there any way you can help fill in some of the FDNY terminology for me, such as "Car 4 Adam", "4 Bravo", etc? If you know how, I'd love to find a list of all units assigned to Box 8087 and 9088 on 9/11/01. Thanks, Doug
Good Afternoon,
RE:FDNY Dispatch Tapes From 9/11
Dated : friday August 12, 2005
Collapse and Confusion section:
I was the fireman on the radio that morning from Marine 3. From time to time I would listen to that tape as a way to help the healing process. That tape is no longer available on your web site. I was hoping someone could direct me to a site where I may be able to listen to that tape again, it has been some time now and I need to listen to it . The 9th anniversary is coming upon us soon, and this will help me a great deal. Thank you, George
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