03 October 2001

EP native helps with effort at 'Ground Zero'

by Kathy Nelson

While Eden Prairie residents watched the horror of Sept. 11 unfold via television sets, Eden Prairie native Andrew Furber watched it unfold from the street.

Furber, a 1987 Eden Prairie High School graduate, not only watched the attack on the towers but also later worked on the "pile" of rubble that was the World Trade Center.

The local native has been in New York City for about a year. Originally, Furber was a project manager for an Internet company. But, after the third wave of layoffs, his job was cut.

Already a volunteer on the 1931 John J. Harvey fireboat, he became a full-time welder at Pier 63, off W. 23rd St. in New York City. He was biking to that welding job on the ill-fated day of terrorism. On his way, Furber recalled seeing the smoke and emergency vehicles, and then realized the towers were on fire. After quickly checking in with people at the pier, he biked down to get a closer look.

"I saw a bunch of people in suits and nice work clothes walking, trying to escape," Furber, 33, said. "Then I saw the tower collapse and people falling. I heard a cop say, 'This is an act of terrorism. Walk north.'"

On his way out of the area, he saw the second tower collapse. At that point, the Eden Prairie native said he had what he called an "emotional moment," beginning to realize the scope of the event.

As he and crowds of people headed north, "I saw people crumbling under the anxiety and the stress, under the load of this," Furber said.

At the pier, the fireboat, recently retired, had been called back into service.

Furber and his fellow firefighters took the fireboat closer to downtown and hauled about 150 people away from Battery Park. Crewmembers then brought the boat back to the scene, to pump water on the fires in the towers for the rest of the day. Furber said that while Chief Engineer Tim Ivory was there "the whole time," the rest of the guys took shifts sleeping on hammocks slung on board.

Besides his work on the John J. Harvey, Furber lent his welding skills to the rescue effort at Ground Zero. After all, "they needed people to cut steel," he said.

So, with his welding experience, Furber went and worked through the night until 6 a.m. Sept. 12. After a quick nap, he was back at it at 9 a.m. Sept. 12. His welding work continued that day and all of Sept. 13.

One of the goals of the workers was to clear the Westside Highway, so larger equipment could be brought into the crash site.

Needless to say the work was hard, dirty, and exhausting. Furber said that despite the difficult circumstances, it was also an effort to almost be in awe of.

"It was a very organic thing," he said. "Everyone was pitching in, getting stuff done. No one was worried about whether or not they were going to get paid."

Still, there were definitely tough moments. Furber told how as he was cutting through the mangled steel, he could smell the decomposing bodies stirred by the heat of the torch.

"The most wrenching moment came when we were cutting bars and found a fireman," Furber said. "There was just his arm exposed, but I remember thinking that wedding ring is connected to someone who won't ever see him again."

Furber's last day working on the site was Sept. 13.

"I did what I could," he said. "I feel lucky that I was able to get down there and have an impact."

The future

Furber, who lives in New York City with girlfriend Annette Kirchner and is a graduate student at Columbia University, has no intentions of leaving the city.

He acknowledged that when he was getting ready to move there a year ago, he had some anxiety about taking up residence in the "Big Apple." But, as most Americans, "of course, I never anticipated it would be the center of a terrorist attack, but now that I look back, it makes sense."

Things are obviously different in New York City. Since he rides his bike into the city, rather than driving or taking public transportation, Furber said he's not sure what some of his fellow New Yorkers are thinking.

Still, he's noticed a few changes, including the proliferation of flags on cars and buildings.

"The lines between the police and civilians have dissolved," Furber said. "Everyone is so united. The way people interact with each other ... we all have a common goal."

With the skyline forever changed and the feeling of security in this country somewhat shaken, it's hard to know what the future will bring.

But, Furber said that he and Kirchner are going ahead with their plans and their lives.

For instance, the couple will be flying to Seattle this weekend for a wedding. While there's a little anxiety, Furber said the recent Time story that told of the pilot on a flight from Colorado instructing passengers to throw things at any potential hijacker gave them some inspiration.

Even though it's hard to retell the story of the Sept. 11 tragedy, Furber acknowledged that it's also an important story.

"I'm excited to be able to share the story," he said, "if it helps people understand it."

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