Granite From Okla. City's Murrah Building Donated to National Fire Heritage Center

EMMITSBURG, MD – A chunk of granite from the facade of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City now has a place in the National Fire Heritage Center here.

It was delivered Tuesday afternoon by a contingent of Oklahoma City fire and state officials including Oklahoma Fire Marshal Robert Doke.

On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb blew up in front of federal building leaving 168 dead and hundreds injured.

Wayne Powell, executive director of the National Fire Heritage Center, said he was honored by the donation of the granite.

 “Many firefighters weren’t around when the bombing happened. We will use this as we tell the story to visitors.”

The NFHC shares the building with the Frederick County Fire Museum, and is located yards from the entrance to the National Fire Academy.

The collections mainly include fire service documents and books.

Powell added that it's important that the history of the American fire service be shared.

Many in the Oklahoma group who visited Tuesday afternoon responded to the bombing.

“I still have flashbacks. Some things trigger them like the sound of a jackhammer or heavy equipment as well as the odor or aroma of gunpowder,” Doke said. “None of us will ever forget.”

Doke and his crew from Chickasha Fire Dept. got to the site the day after the incident, and assisted with the recovery.

Edmond Capt. Joe Elam had 16 months on the job when he responded with his shift.

Nothing could ever prepare him or anyone for what they encountered 20 years ago.

“When we pulled up, it was so surreal. We had to retreat because of a second threat, but then we got to work,” Elam explained.

For nine hours, he hauled rocks and moved debris while searching the second floor where the nursery was.

“My most vivid memory was finding a size 1 kid’s shoe,” he said as his eyes filled with tears.

 After his long, emotional day, Elam said he got home in time for his son’s baseball game.  Being there was important, especially after what he’d witnessed.

After that experience, the former retail manager emerged himself in technical rescue training.

Oklahoma City Chief Keith Bryant, a captain in 1995, said it was the only time in the history of the department that all off-duty firefighters were recalled.

“We just never thought we’d be the target of a terrorist threat. You think about it happening in bigger cities…”

Bryant said responders, joined by citizens, were doing everything they could to find, rescue and remove people from the debris.

 “The operation was different than any other. At a wreck, we know how to get into rescue someone. That wasn’t the case. We found people, and it took days to get them out,” the chief said.

He remembered how a surgeon had to amputate a woman’s leg that was severely pinned.

 “It was the only way to get her out,” he added shaking his head.

Bryant said having a critical incident stress team already in place at the time paid off.

“We were ahead of the game because we’d had one in place since 1989, after we lost three firefighters.”

Crews were given quiet time to defuse, and were required to attend a session with a counselor. “I think we avoided widespread substance abuse and other issues that show up after an incident like this.”

Twenty years ago, Deputy Chief Kellie Sawyers was sitting in her office four blocks away when the building shook and the ceiling tiles fell.

 “We thought a plane had hit a building,” she said, adding that she and the others in the fire inspectors’ office ran to help.

 “I just started helping with triage and treating people. I used an Ambu Bag on a little girl, and stayed with her on the way to the hospital. I checked on her later in the afternoon, and found out she made it!” Sawyers said. “Her name is Nekia.”

She’s never had an opportunity to meet her, but would love.

“I was working on the other side of the building from where th bomb went off and created the crater. It wasn’t until later that I got around to that…”

Two days after she pitched debris to uncover victims, Sawyers found out she was pregnant. It was rather surreal as she knew a number of little children perished in the incident.

“I was told I was having twins, but I didn’t. My little girl was born in November…”

Doke said he is pleased the NFHC staff has taken on the task of preserving fire service history.