A Timeline of 9/11-- Part 3: The Second Crash

**  8:47 am:  Within seconds after the first crash, NYPD and NYFD dispatch units to the World Trade Center, while Port Authority officers on the site begin immediate evacuation of the North Tower.

**  8:50:   White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card alerts  President George W. Bush that a plane has hit the World Trade Center; the president is visiting a m elementary school in Sarasota, Florida, at the time.

**  9:02:  After initially telling occupants of the WTC's South Tower to remain in the building, Port Authority officials broadcast orders to evacuate both towers via the public address system; an estimated  10,000 to 14,000 are already in the process of evacuating.

**  9:03 am:  Hijackers crash United Airlines175 into floors 75-85 of the WTC's South Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds in the tower.

**  9:08 am:  The FAA Bans all takeoffs of flights going to New York City or through airspace around the city.

At 7:50 am I was outside my room supervising the arrival of students.  By 7:55 they were in the room and working on the Daily Challenge questions on the board while I took attendance.  Completely oblivious about what was going on.

60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 4: 92 Students and 3 Nuns Perished

The school's second floor windows were 25 feet from the outside ground preventing a safe jump for students ir teachers.

The fire department was late getting to the fire as they had somehow been given the wrong address.  They then had to use a ladder as a battering ram to break through the locked iron fence surrounding the school.  Eventually more than 200 firefighters from 22 engine companies, seven ladder companies and 10 squad companies responded to the fire.

The Chicago Fire Commissioner at the time, Robert Quinn, was quoted as saying of the fire, "It was the worst thing I have ever seen or ever will see."

Firefighters and neighbors began to bring ladders to the site to attempt to rescue trapped students on the second floor of the north wing.  Firemen climbed ladders and pulled many students through the windows to safety.

Some of the students jumped from the windows.  Approximately 340 students and teachers were trapped on the second floor of the north wing and of these, 92 students and three nuns perished.

Genoa Schoolhouse Burns Down in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Yesterday afternoon about three o'clock fire was discovered at the Genoa schoolhouse and before the fire department could get to work the flames were beyond control and the building was totally destroyed.

"The origin of the fire is unknown.  Reports say that it might have been started from spontaneous combustion, while others think it might have started from sparks from rubbish which the janitor was burning alongside the building."

I'm Sure the Children Were Extremely Upset.  --Cooter

Sandy, the Fire Dog

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Ever notice the small black dog that is continually following members of the fire department whenever they go out on the street for anything?

"'Sandy', who formerly belonged to the Shellaberger family, is a typical fireman, and no matter where he may be if he hears the alarm bells, he runs for the station as fast as possible."

A Dog's Life.  --Cooter

A Fire at NIU in 1967

From the March 8, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"DeKalb firemen made quick work of the blaze in the barracks type building at Northern Illinois University, but the extreme heat in the office, where the blaze started, caused damage that will run up to $3,000."

Because of the fast growth of NIU after World War II, many barracks-style building were constructed to handle the overflow of students.

--Cooter

A Second Phone Line Put Into DeKalb Fire Department in 1917

From the March 29, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago."

"In order that there might not be no time lost in case someone was endeavoring to report a fire in DeKalb, another telephone has been placed at the station.

"The new phone has been attached to the telephone gong circuit, and in case the operator cannot get the boys on 49, she has an opportunity to use 549."

A Three-Digit Phone Number.  I Could Remember That.  --Cooter

The Famed DeKalb-Made Firetrucks in 1917

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The fame of DeKalb made fire trucks is monthly spreading over more territory and through the efforts of the sales department of the local wagon company, and also through the words of praise from outside users, the company is making a truck for some city at all times.

"The latest Illinois city to join the ranks of DeKalb Wagon Company fire trucks is Fulton, which order was signed last week."

I'd never heard of DeKalb Fire trucks.

Going Fire in DeKalb.  --CootFire

Looking Back to 1942: A Fire Break

From the January 18, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago

"At 8:45 o'clock this morning, the DeKalb fire department had enjoyed a 24-hour period without a fire call.  This is news because the company had its nineteenth call in thirteen days, yesterday morning."

A Much Needed Break from the Flames.  --Cooter

1915 Fire Reporting in DeKalb, Ill.: Early 911, Nipping It in the Bud

From the Dec. 29, 2015, MidWeek "Looking Back."

From Dec. 23, 1915, 100 years ago.

"The chief of the fire department asks The Chronicle to inform the people of the city that in case there is a fire to report that they do not take time to call the fire department headquarters on the telephone but just tell the operator 'fire call.'

"There is a special fire circuit by means of which the operator can send in an alarm without using the regular phone to the station and by this doing away with the calling of the number and letting the firemen realize instantly that a fire awaits them, several seconds can be saved which may mean the difference between a costly fire and one nipped in the bud."

--Coot911er