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"The Fire Commissioner moves through the throngs of firefighters telling us to
evacuate the building, seeming to imply not to worry about putting out the
fires. Fire Chaplain Mychal Judge is quiet, praying for all of us. His eyes are
not looking at anyone in particular but silently speaking to all to be safe.
Right at this very moment, Firefighter Harry Coyle nudges me and whispers,
"Kevin's father is in one of the towers." I think to myself of the tremendous
emotion and anxiety I have and know that Kevin has to bear with the extra burden
of having a relative on the upper floors of the tower."
"Suddenly the North Tower, #1 starts to rumble and shake violently. We all head
toward stairwell "B" and huddle near the door while the floor we are on shakes
and rumbles for thirty or more seconds. The lights go out and we are thrown into
total darkness. Stairways and hallways fill with smoke and dust as the rumble
and roar subsides. All of us start to speculate on the cause of the rumble.
Could it be another plane crash or localized collapse? Someone in the darkness
mentions a bomb. There is little time now to ponder what just happened. What
could shake the North Tower so violently?"
Firefighter Hugh J. Mettham's
testimony written by Hugh J. Mettham Author's note: These
firefighters were trapped in Building one when Tower 2 collapsed. They just made
it out of Tower 1 seeking refuge under parked vehicles. Luckily, they all made
it and are here to write this excerpt for you. Their story will appear in the
book, Heroes of the WTC, NO GREATER LOVE
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