Patrick Creed - Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11

The Pentagons floor plan, above, shows how the 10 corridors, which run from the outside of the building to the center, like spokes, intersect with the five concentric rings (A through E). A&E Drive is the service road that served as a rallying point for firefighters. The tunnel that fire crews used to get to the center courtyard begins to the right of the Corridor 2 entrance.

The broader map above shows where Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, near the heliport, between Corridors 4 and 5. Most of the interior fire burned in the area bounded by those two hallways and A&E Drive, where the force of the plane created the punch-out hole and the final remnants of Flight 77 came to rest.

RECURRING CHARACTERS

ARLINGTON COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Jim Anderson, driver of Quint 104, fought fire throughout the building and on the roof on Sept. 11.

Bobby Beer, member of Rescue 104 crew who also worked on the Technical Rescue Team (TRT).

Capt. Ed Blunt, an EMS supervisor, established the casualty triage site on Washington Boulevard, overlooking the burning Pentagon.

Battalion Chief Jim Bonzano helped run EMS and worked as one of the incident commanders.

Fred Calvert, driver of Engine 108, manned multiple water pumps into the night on Sept. 11.

Ron Christman steered the rear tiller wheel of Truck 105, the first fire vehicle to arrive at the Pentagon.

Battalion Chief Bob Cornwell set up the first command post and ranged throughout the fire ground on Sept. 11.

Chris Cox, part of a composite crew that went to the inner courtyard and fought fire near the C Ring.

Capt. Dan Fitch, TRT squad leader who helped clear debris, recover remains, and stabilize the building.

Capt. Chuck Gibbs, initially placed in command of the River Division responsible for the firefight on the helipad side of the Pentagon.

Dodie Gill, director of Arlington Countys mental health and employee support program, counseled workers at the scene.

Capt. Bob Gray, one of the TRT leaders.

Battalion Chief Randy Gray, one of the incident commanders.

Capt. Denis Griffin, officer in charge of Quint 104, led his team into the center courtyard and fought fire throughout the building.

Capt. Ed Hannon fought fire throughout the building and on the roof with D.C. and Arlington crews.

Capt. Doug Insley, Chief Schwartzs aide at the command post.

Capt. Kenny Johnson, a medic who assisted battalion chief Dale Jerome Smith in the courtyard.

Joe Lightfoot, Bob Cornwells aide, worked multiple duties at the command post.

Battalion Chief G. O. Lyon, one of the incident commanders.

Jason Cub Lyon, part of a composite crew that went to the inner courtyard and fought fire near the C Ring.

Paul Marshall, part of a composite crew that went to the inner courtyard and fought fire near the C Ring.

Capt. Steve McCoy, the officer in charge of Engine 101, one of the first to report seeing Flight 77 crash, also led his crew fighting fire throughout the building.

Capt. Scott McKay, one of the TRT leaders.

Fire Chief Ed Plaugher, delegated tactical command of the incident to his operations chief so he could coordinate with numerous government agencies sending workers to the Pentagon.

Chris Ramey, Chief Plaughers aide.

Brian Roache, driver of Truck 105, the first fire vehicle to arrive at the Pentagon.

Assistant Chief Jim Schwartz, incident commander for the overall operation.

Battalion Chief Dale Jerome Smith directed operations in the center courtyard on Sept. 11.

Capt. Mike Smith, officer in charge of Engine 108, led his crew on multiple sorties into the burning building.

Derek Spector, acting officer in charge of Truck 105, led the first fire crew to enter the Pentagon.

Capt. Brian Spring led the composite crew including Chris Cox, Jason Lyon, and Paul Marshall, also one of the TRT leaders.

Chad Stamps, part of Bobby Beers crew on Rescue 104, fought fire and searched for victims near the impact site.

Keith Young helped control freelancers running in through the Pentagons Corridor 5 entrance.

OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS

District Chief Richie Bowers from Montgomery County, Maryland, led teams of firefighters on the roof on Sept. 12.

Capt. Mike Defina, acting battalion chief from Reagan National Airport, helped run the River Division command post early in the operation.

Lt. Craig Duck, from the District of Columbia, led one of the first crews to arrive in the center courtyard.

Chief Micky Fyock, from Woodsboro, Maryland, led a crew of volunteers manning an antique ladder truck in the center courtyard early in the morning on Sept. 12.

Battalion Chief John Gleske, from Fairfax County, Virginia, led teams of firefighters on the roof on Sept. 12.

Battalion Chief Denny Martin, from Reagan National Airport, in command of overnight operations in the courtyard on Sept. 1112.

Mark Skipper, from Fort Myer, Virginia, on routine firefighting duty at the Pentagon helipad on Sept. 11 when Flight 77 crashed into the building.

Battalion Fire Chief Dick Sterne, from the District of Columbia, one of the commanders on Sept. 12.

Alan Wallace, from Fort Myer, Virginia, manned the Pentagon helipad the morning of Sept. 11 when Flight 77 struck.

Dennis Young, from Fort Myer, Virginia, manned the Pentagon helipad the morning of Sept. 11 when Flight 77 struck.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)

Perry Bowser, a contractor hired to operate the T-Rex, a huge crane used to dismantle the rubble pile at the impact point.