Frantic effort to save two Bravest

NY Daily News, Thursday, August 21st 2008, 11:11 PM

Handie-Talkie Transcript, Deutsche Bank Fire
Aug. 18, 2007
Source: FDNY Investigative Report

4:07:46 p.m. - "This is Rescue 1...Ah, we could hear a good fire crackling up here. Lotta heat, ah, the camera's showing hot. I don't see any actual flaming but I hear it...There are a lot of holes in the floor right by the stairwell, so tell the guys to be careful."

4:08:09 p.m. - "10-4. Be advised we have no water in the lines up here yet. Ok Cap. There's no water in these lines, so keep a distance back. It's gonna be a little while before we get good water. We also have, ah, good fire going on 15 at this time."

4:14:36 p.m. - "10 Control. MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. Engine 10 Control."

4:15:03 p.m. - "Command to Battalion 2. Can you get a hold of Engine 10 Controlman to find out what the MAYDAY is?"

4:15:03 p.m. - "Member with the MAYDAY, member with the MAYDAY, calm down."

4:15:13 p.m. - "Member with the MAYDAY, activate your distress button."

4:17:51 p.m. - "It's getting pretty bad up here, Chief. Heavy smoke, heavy fire in the other part of the building. They're using search ropes. They're trying to locate the members."

4:18:00 p.m. - "Rescue Roof with an URGENT. I have the member that gave the MAYDAY. We're heading out now."

4:18:02 p.m. - "Who has the missing member?"

4:29:56 p.m. - "Listen, I want a roll call. Do we have a roll call finished up there? I don't give a s--- about the building. I give a s--- about the guys. Do we have a roll call? Do we know who's missing?"

5:00:16 p.m. - "Listen, I'm trying to account for Engine 24. I got the officer down in the street here and I'm told...looking for 2 guys...looking for the Engine 24 Nozzle and Control. Engine 24 Nozzle and Control, are you on the air?"

5:01:59 p.m. - "I got a member down. We're trying to get him out of here on the 14th floor. His PASS alarm is going off, non-responsive."

5:02:08 p.m. - "Mike, what floor are you on?"

5:02:22 p.m. - Division...1 to, ah, Command. I'm on the 14th floor. I have no help getting the guy out. We're checking the possible activation of another PASS alarm."

5:02:33 p.m. - "...come on in, give us a hand. We got a big guy to pull out. Hurry up."

5:04:50 p.m. - "Jack, my main concern right now is getting everybody down below the fire. We barely have water and I need to account for everybody and we're not doing a good job with that. How many more people do we got to get down below the 14th floor? Who have we not accounted for?"

5:05:07 p.m. - "We got the member now, we're bringing him down on the floor. Make sure they got EMS. He's out of air and unconscious."

5:10:12 p.m. - "MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY. Engine...MAYDAY—MAYDAY."

5:10:16 p.m. - "Unit with the MAYDAY."

5:10:18 p.m. - "Engine 3 with a MAYDAY. I have an unconscious fireman."

5:14:34 p.m. - "Jay, we need a hand pulling a guy out on 14."

5:14:44 p.m. - "Is there a member on 14?"

5:14:46 p.m. - "Yes...a member on 14."

5:16:58 p.m. - "Get that elevator up to the 14th floor. We're bringing the member here right now. URGENT."