Firefighters erred in trade centre rescue rush

NEW YORK - New York Fire Department's response to the September 11 attack at the World Trade Centre was plagued by communication problems and discipline lapses.

A report by independent consultant McKinsey & Co concludes problems with the radio system caused commanders to lose touch with many firefighters who went into the twin towers, the New York Times reported.

It said lapses in discipline led firefighters to rush to the scene without checking in with commanders at designated staging areas.

A virtual absence of co-ordination with police officials, the consultants say, meant fire commanders had no access to reports from police helicopters that hovered above the 110-storey buildings, tracking their structural integrity and the progress of fires across the upper floors.

"This lack of information hindered their ability to evaluate the overall situation," the newspaper reported the draft report as saying.

Radio communications were sporadic and critical information was apparently never received by firefighters on upper floors in the building, it added.

The full report is due out as early as this week.

More than 2800 people died, including 343 firefighters and 23 police officers, when the towers collapsed after being struck by two hijacked aircraft.

The draft, significant parts of which were obtained by the newspaper, acknowledges the attack, which triggered fires that trapped thousands of people, was an overwhelming event that required an unusual level of co-ordination.

But it says the department must improve its planning, overhaul parts of its training, acquire substantial new technology and co-ordinate more effectively with other emergency agencies.

"We believe that the [Fire Department] cannot adequately fulfil its mission to the citizens of New York City unless the city or state governments establish a formal effective process of inter-agency planning and co-ordination."

The report also says the department's Emergency Medical Service had serious problems deploying, tracking and controlling its ambulance and trauma personnel.

Overall, the draft says, the department needs to be run with tighter standards.

"Accountability needs to be increased at headquarters and in the field," it says.

The consultant, which specialises in reviewing management practices, spent five months preparing the report.

Meanwhile, a tape of emergency radio transmissions on September 11 shows firefighters reached the burning 78th floor of the south tower where the jetliner sliced through, nearly 30 floors higher than officials had estimated.

Four people who have listened to the tape said at least two firefighters reached the crash site and were helping the injured, the Times reported.

The 78-minute tape was found in the rubble months ago but was not played until fire officials signed a confidentiality agreement.

The agreement was requested because the tape may be used as evidence in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, accused of conspiracy in the September 11 attacks. Moussaoui, who faces the death penalty, has said he is a loyal member of al Qaeda but denies a role in September 11.

Officials had thought firefighters had not climbed higher than the 50th floor in either tower. United Flight 175 crashed into the south tower between the 78th and 84th floors. American Airlines Flight 11 sliced through the north tower near the 91st floor.

Most of the transmissions on the tape came from the south tower.

The fire department has identified the voices of at least 16 firefighters on the recording, and the families were invited to listen to the tape on Saturday after signing confidentiality agreements.

- REUTERS

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