Fire Escape Chutes and 9/11

By Larry Pines

In 1993 a massive bomb was planted in the parking garage of the World Trade Center. I watched on TV as FDNY firefighters evacuated occupants of the Twin Towers. Most, if not all, of these people emerged with their faces blackened with soot from the thick, acrid smoke in the darkened fire stairs.

There were no emergency lights according to survivors. Some people, including a pregnant woman, were evacuated via roof-top helicopter landings by NYPD officers.

One occupant, so the story goes, was wheelchair-bound and couldn’t navigate the stairs. We are always told NOT to use elevators in a fire, so he couldn’t go that route either. Rather than leave their friend to his death – two other occupants hand-carried him 51 flights down to the street – with one of the carriers suffering a heart attack.

Apparently it took a full seven hours to evacuate all the occupants. This was unacceptable to me and many others – especially those who occupied the towers.

I had previously viewed a story on Discovery Channel named 'Beyond 2000' (out of Brisbane Australia). In that program hospital staff ran a drill wherein they evacuated bed-ridden patients from upper floors via what appeared to be a long stocking, suspended outside the building from a dedicated window/door.

After the 1993 WTC bombing I phoned 'Beyond' staff – asking for details for the company producing these 'fire escape chutes'. Ironically it transpired that the company was based in the USA.

Upon tracking down the manufacturer I learned they had been in contact with FDNY management and could get nowhere. They DID tell me that Mobile Oil had them install chutes in THEIR high-rise office building somewhere in the south – so it wasn't as if every fire department rejected these life savers.

I subsequently mailed a letter to NYC's (then) Mayor David Dinkins – offering to gather together a team of engineers (local 'downsized' IBMers) to plan and install these chutes in the towers, in dedicated fire-hardened shafts, so that everyone could escape within an hour – without inhaling cancer-causing smoke/chemicals.

I especially pointed-out the advantage for disabled people (citing the above mentioned evacuation of the wheelchair-bound man).

Rather than address the issue of these buildings NOT providing (self) emergency egress for disabled people – Dinkins' staff sent my letter to the FDNY 'Chief of Operations' (whose name escapes me – and I no longer have the original letter – though a local radio show host made a copy during an interview back in late 2001).

The 'Chief' wrote back politely thanking me for writing to the Mayor but making it clear FDNY brass would not entertain approving the installation of such devices – essentially telling me: "Don't call us – we'll call you".

The Chief also informed me that their 'Command Structure' coupled with their advanced 'communications system' had been proven essential in the safe evacuation of all those people following the bombing.

Come 9/11, I heard these two elements had led to the deaths of some 300 firefighters when they received conflicting orders and/or had their communications 'blocked' by others using the same 'channels'. Ironically, this Chief was listed amongst those missing following the collapse of one of the towers.

Subsequent to the 9/11 attack I sent copies of these letters (i.e. my letter to Dinkins and the Chief's response to me) to several major and local media outlets. Only the NY Sun deemed to reply – stating something about not wanting to incur any more grief amongst families of the dead/missing.

Only that one local radio show host seemed interested in revealing the fact that FDNY brass had been negligent in their duties and may've cost the lives of some 3,000 innocent people.

I must add that the Chief had also told me that they (FDNY) had a device known as a 'Lorenzo's Ladder' on their trucks – which was designed to permit firefighters to get around individual floors which were engulfed in flame. He didn't go into any detail though – so I contacted some FDNY firefighters who lived locally.

When I asked what this 'ladder' was I was told none of the firefighters had ever used it and no-one ever would. This 'ladder' would be placed out a window on a floor immediately below the floor ablaze and anchored with guy wires (to what – they wouldn't say).

A firefighter would then climb out the window and place another ladder at the end of the first. The second ladder would then be directed back towards the building and a window on the floor immediately above the floor ablaze.

Think of two ladders mounted outside a building – forming a triangle with the outer wall serving as the third leg. The firefighters said imagine doing that some 50 floors above the street and I'd understand why no one had ever (or WILL ever) use it.

When I explained the function of the fire escape chutes I was met with animosity. The typical reply being: "Whatta ya trying to do – put US outta work!?"

I don't know if those particular firefighters survived 9/11 because I didn't get their names.

Think about it: here is a device which would make you, the firefighters’ job a whole lot easier AND safer. Instead of leading/carrying people down several floors in high-rise buildings AND simultaneously fighting a fire – people could escape on their own – freeing you to fight the fires.

In fact, because THEY could get out on their own – YOU, the firefighters, would have exclusive access to the fire stairs to get up AND a rapid avenue to escape to the street should you need it. (Remember the photos taken in the stairwells on 9/11?)

How many times have FDNY rank and file needed climbing ropes and gear to rapel down the outside of buildings because those buildings were no longer structurally sound?

Carrying some 100lbs of gear up the stairs means you have to carry it down again as well. How much bottled air can you carry (in your 'Scott AirPak') to sustain you both UP and DOWN? You'd have a better chance of surviving if you could merely jump into a chute to escape rather than feel your way down smoke-choked firestairs.

As for controlling your descent down the chute – you merely stick out your elbows/knees. They're typically made of Kevlar (strong as steel) and Nomex (fire resistant).

Larry T Pines
Middletown
New York USA