Published on April 18, 2019

Tomorrow is the 24^th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

Menlo Park Fire Protection District - Friday, April 19, 2019, is the 24^th Anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing where a truck loaded with 4800 pounds of explosives was detonated directly next the Alfred P. Murrah Building, killing 168 people of which 19 were children and injuring 500 more people. It is now considered the second worst terrorist attack against the United States on our own soil.

Twenty Four (24) years ago, members of California Task Force 3, one of two of the Bay Area’s specialized Urban Search and Rescue Teams, spent 10 days searching through the heavily damaged Murrah Building looking for survivors but primarily locating the human remains of the dead. The Task Force was also involved with extremely technical rope rigging operations that often involved hanging from the nine story building, conducting aerial breaching and removing, or securing, concrete hazards. The work was dangerous, physical, grueling, emotional and truly unforgettable.

Pictured below – The Alfred P. Murrah Building from above - Credit Task Force 3

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said. “It was an event that none who responded there have ever forgotten”. Many of the 56 Team members were so taken back by how well they were treated by the people of Oklahoma City but equally deeply impacted by the difficult human remains recovery work. Half the team attended the one year anniversary in Oklahoma City hoping for closure. They then attended the teams own memorial dedication in Menlo Park on the fifth anniversary and finally, many returned for the tenth anniversary event in Oklahoma City for the dedication of the newly completed memorial.   

Pictured below – The 56 Members of Task Force 3 a mixture of civilian professionals and Firefighters from throughout San Mateo County - Credit Task Force 3

“For the last fourteen years I’ve been storing a metal file folder box in my attic that contains all of our team members information and the information of people we met and worked with while we there and when we went back for the tenth anniversary. The plan now, a year out, is to see who wants to go back for the 25^th anniversary next year” Chief Schapelhouman said.

Pictured below – The Team members forms a v-line, used to remove debris in order to recover three deceased victims - Credit Task Force 3

Several years ago, a number of team members were being interviewed for an anniversary documentary on the Task Forces response to the World Trade Center Collapse. The commentator said “so I would guess that 9/11 was the worst disaster you’ve ever responded too?” he assumed. About five of us uncomfortably looked at each other and countered “no, it wasn’t, the Oklahoma City Bombing was worse”.

Pictured below – Team members removing “widow makers” (concrete hanging slabs) from the ninth floor looking up, while other responders continue to work below - Credit Task Force 3

Pictured below – Team members drilling rigging holes in a “widow maker” (concrete hanging slabs) from the ninth floor looking down - Credit Task Force 3

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