The bombing of the 1993 WTC was an event of immense proportions, the largest incident ever handled in the City of New York Fire Department’s 128-year history also complex that it was effectively several major multiple-alarm fires combined into one. In terms of the number of fire department units that responded, it was the equivalent of a 16-alarm fire.
As the incident commander, I can attest to the fact that it was the firefighters’ tremendous efforts and courage that brought this incident to a successful conclusion.
The statistics are staggering: Six people died and 1,042 were injured. Of those injured, 15 received traumatic injuries from the blast itself. Nearly 20 people complained of cardiac problems, and nearly 30 pregnant women were rescued. Eighty-eight firefighters (one requiring hospitalization), 35 police officers, and one EMS worker sustained injuries. It is estimated that approximately 50,000 people were evacuated from the WTC complex, including nearly 25,000 from each of the two towers. Fire alarm dispatchers received more than 1,000 phone calls, most reporting victims trapped on the upper floors of the towers. Search and evacuation of the towers finally were completed some 11 hours after the incident began.
