The World Trade Center on September 11, 2001

1550 Words4 Pages

As a Union County Fireman Battalion Chief James Adams has seen it all, from small houses to massive buildings brought down by fires. Working as Union County Fire Department in Union, New Jersey for over 25 years he has become an expert at fighting fires. Because of Chief Adams work ethic, he never married or had any children. Chief Adams was completely invested in his career. There was only one event during his career that worried him. February 26, 1993, the first World Trade Center bombing. Although he did not fight the fire, Chief Adams knew many that did. Gratefully, no firemen died but the unsettling part about the whole ordeal was hijackers were able to get passed security. This tragic event never left Chief Adams mind. Little did he know that history would repeat itself.

One particular morning on September 11, 2001, Chief Adams was going out, “Hey! Guys im going to Dunkin Donuts, anyone want anything?” he shouted. A few of the firemen replied with orders as Chief Adams walked out the garage door. Walking out of Dunkin Donuts he felt a vibration followed by a tropical ringtone. “Chief, you need to get here now, the World Trade Center has been hit,” the panicked fireman explained frantically. Frozen in his tracks, Chief Adams assured the fireman everything was going to get handled. Reminiscing about the first World Trade Center attack in 1993, a feeling of devastation came over him abruptly. Returning to the firehouse Chief Adams was yelling orders to the firemen, “Francis, call the New York Fire Departments and see what supplies they need.” All the other firemen were told to prepare the fire trucks for dispatch. “We’re going to New York, we have to fill in for the New York City Fire Departments,” Chief dictated, still ...

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...ction for them. Just like that, everything was returned to normal.

Special ceremonies were held for those who passed in the fire. “I was blessed enough to be a part of the commemorations because those people risked their lives to save this county” he explained emotionally. “I’m glad I didn't fight the fire because that could’ve been me. I just want to thank them” Chief Adams finished.

Works Cited

Dwyer, Jim. "Donated Goods Deluge the City And Sit Unused. (Cover story)." New York Times 16 Sept. 2001: 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Marshall, Karen. "States Ready To Respond." State Government News 44.9 (2001):13. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

"Remains Of A Day." Time Europe 160.11 (2002): 56. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

"World Trade Center.” World News Digest. Infobase Learning, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

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