Please be advised that the New York City Fire Department, in compliance with a court order, will be publicly releasing transcripts on August 12, 2005.

One copy will be available per family (READ BELOW)
                  
                On March 24, 2005, the New York State Court
of Appeals (the State's highest court) ruled in a case brought by the New
York Times and certain family members to obtain various Fire Department
records relating to the events of September 11, 2001 under the state's
Freedom of Information Law.  Among the records the Court directed be
released were transcripts of the Fire Department's oral histories and tapes
and transcripts of radio communications involving Fire Department personnel
(primarily dispatch recordings).  In compliance with the Court's decision,
the Department plans to release the oral histories and radio communications
(including a log of EMS calls) on August 12, 2005 to the families who sought
their release in the lawsuit, to the New York Times, and to other members of
the press.  

                1.  Oral Histories 
                  
                The Court of Appeals ordered that the oral
histories conducted of Fire Department personnel in the aftermath of the
attacks must be disclosed, except for those portions likely to cause serious
pain or embarrassment to interviewees who believed that the interviews were
confidential.  The oral histories have been redacted (i.e. had material
deleted from them) in accordance with the decision.

            2. Radio Communications 

                With respect to the radio communications,
the Court of Appeals determined that opinions and recommendations made by
Fire Department personnel during dispatch calls on September 11th do not
need to be disclosed, but that all other aspects of those communications had
to be disclosed.  The Department determined that no portions of the
recordings fall within this exemption and therefore all of the 9/11 dispatch
communications will be made available.  

                In addition to the recordings of dispatch
communications, the Department will also disclose a printed log of EMS calls
referred to as the Emergency Medical Service Computer Aided Dispatch (EMS
CAD) as well as a transcript and tape which have been previously released of
communications over the repeater system in the World Trade Center.
Consistent with the Court's opinion, the Department has redacted from the
EMS CAD medical information and information that would identify the callers,
and has determined that no portion of the repeater transcript or tape is
subject to redaction.

                If the family of a person who died at the World Trade Center wants a copy of these records, one copy will be made available to each family which submits a request.  The request should be made by the family member who applied for the death certificate.  Requests should be made by mail, and should be addressed to:

                Alexandra Fisher, Special Assistant Counsel 
                New York City Fire Department 
                Room 8N-5 
                9 Metrotech Center
                Brooklyn, New York   11201