Post by Todd B on Jan 10, 2007 10:47:14 GMT -5
Jan. 9, 1997: A day rescue workers will never forget
By: Ray Kisonas
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWS01/101090046
One of his jobs was to immerse himself in the pit of death.
When Comair Flight 3272 plunged straight down and slammed into the frozen ground, it left a deep hole filled with a mass of twisted steel, fluids, airplane seats and body parts.
Mark Mruzek jumped into that pit. He was one of the many Monroe County volunteer firefighters who had the days-long task of recovering what was left of the plane and its victims.
The tragic event 10 years ago today is something that will forever be embedded in the minds of those whose grisly task was to be up close to the remains of those 29 victims.
"That is one thing I will never forget," said Mr. Mruzek, who was a member of the Ida Township Volunteer Fire Department at the time. "It crosses my mind at this time every year."
For most, the term ground zero these days elicits visions of the rubble that once was the Twin Towers. But for many area paid and volunteer professionals, ground zero was a large hole in a frigid Raisinville Township field.
Larry Merkle, chief of the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department, said his department's task was to provide a truck tower so firemen could reach the treetops.
"There were body parts in the trees," he recalled. "When it hit, everything just exploded. Everything just pulverized. Everything just scattered."
Minutes after impact, ground zero was eerily silent. Except for the rumbling of rescue vehicles, the sounds that filled the snowy air were mostly from officials who spoke in hushed voices. There were no screams, no cries for help.
Although lives could not be saved, there still was a dreadful task ahead. For Monroe County sheriff's deputies, state police and volunteer firefighters from Ida, London-Maybee-Raisinville, Monroe Township and other departments, it was a job they had to do.
Paul Metz, chief of the Ida fire department, spent three days on that frozen field collecting ghastly remnants of the crash. When the victims' families began arriving, it became overwhelming.
"I can walk out there right now and tell where everything was laid out," Chief Metz said. "After the third day, I had to leave. Some people can take only so much."
In the 10 years since the crash, many firefighters involved with the recovery have left their departments for one reason or another. Some, like Ida's Ed Werternberger who was Ida's chief at the time, retired. Others, like Mr. Mruzek, simply moved on. At least two firefighters left their departments directly because of what they experienced.
For many, these anniversary dates are painful reminders.
"Truthfully, I try to forget about it," said Rick Smith, chief of the London-Maybee-Raisinville fire department. "That's best for me. I had a rough time with it."
Many believe that the crash aftermath is something they will always remember but rather not talk about. It does not come up in firehouse conversations often, if at all, firefighters said.
"We try to put it in the back of our minds," Chief Metz said. "But sometimes it just rears its ugly head."
That's not to say the firefighters believe this day should not be observed; it's just many would rather keep things low-key.
Despite the memories, firefighters maintain it was their job. If there should ever be another tragedy of that magnitude, they would not hesitate to do everything they could once again.
"I'd be out there in a minute," Chief Smith said. "It's what we do."
By: Ray Kisonas
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWS01/101090046
One of his jobs was to immerse himself in the pit of death.
When Comair Flight 3272 plunged straight down and slammed into the frozen ground, it left a deep hole filled with a mass of twisted steel, fluids, airplane seats and body parts.
Mark Mruzek jumped into that pit. He was one of the many Monroe County volunteer firefighters who had the days-long task of recovering what was left of the plane and its victims.
The tragic event 10 years ago today is something that will forever be embedded in the minds of those whose grisly task was to be up close to the remains of those 29 victims.
"That is one thing I will never forget," said Mr. Mruzek, who was a member of the Ida Township Volunteer Fire Department at the time. "It crosses my mind at this time every year."
For most, the term ground zero these days elicits visions of the rubble that once was the Twin Towers. But for many area paid and volunteer professionals, ground zero was a large hole in a frigid Raisinville Township field.
Larry Merkle, chief of the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department, said his department's task was to provide a truck tower so firemen could reach the treetops.
"There were body parts in the trees," he recalled. "When it hit, everything just exploded. Everything just pulverized. Everything just scattered."
Minutes after impact, ground zero was eerily silent. Except for the rumbling of rescue vehicles, the sounds that filled the snowy air were mostly from officials who spoke in hushed voices. There were no screams, no cries for help.
Although lives could not be saved, there still was a dreadful task ahead. For Monroe County sheriff's deputies, state police and volunteer firefighters from Ida, London-Maybee-Raisinville, Monroe Township and other departments, it was a job they had to do.
Paul Metz, chief of the Ida fire department, spent three days on that frozen field collecting ghastly remnants of the crash. When the victims' families began arriving, it became overwhelming.
"I can walk out there right now and tell where everything was laid out," Chief Metz said. "After the third day, I had to leave. Some people can take only so much."
In the 10 years since the crash, many firefighters involved with the recovery have left their departments for one reason or another. Some, like Ida's Ed Werternberger who was Ida's chief at the time, retired. Others, like Mr. Mruzek, simply moved on. At least two firefighters left their departments directly because of what they experienced.
For many, these anniversary dates are painful reminders.
"Truthfully, I try to forget about it," said Rick Smith, chief of the London-Maybee-Raisinville fire department. "That's best for me. I had a rough time with it."
Many believe that the crash aftermath is something they will always remember but rather not talk about. It does not come up in firehouse conversations often, if at all, firefighters said.
"We try to put it in the back of our minds," Chief Metz said. "But sometimes it just rears its ugly head."
That's not to say the firefighters believe this day should not be observed; it's just many would rather keep things low-key.
Despite the memories, firefighters maintain it was their job. If there should ever be another tragedy of that magnitude, they would not hesitate to do everything they could once again.
"I'd be out there in a minute," Chief Smith said. "It's what we do."