Flight 93 Memorial open while fire investigation continues
October 4, 2014 1:22 PM
Fire burns 3 administrative buildings at Flight 93 memorial; visitors center unaffected
By Joyce Gannon /
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County was open to visitors today as officials from the National Park Service assessed damage from a fire Friday that destroyed the site’s administrative offices.
Special agents from the NPS arrived at the site in Shanksville overnight and joined with state police to investigate the cause of the fire and determine the extent of loss to memorial artifacts housed in the structures, said Mike Litterst, public affairs officer for the NPS.
All the modular units in the complex that served as the park’s headquarters were lost, Mr. Litterst said. Earlier reports stated one of four units was not destroyed, but Mr. Litterst today said, “It’s highly unlikely the fourth can be saved.”
Investigators planned to release a statement later today about the status of the memorial’s collection, he said. Curators from the NPS today were examining what remained after the fire was extinguished Friday afternoon, Mr. Litterst said.
Among the items stored in fireproof safes inside the structures was an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. On that day, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed at the memorial site after passengers attempted to wrest control of the plane from its hijackers. All 40 passengers and crew members died.
As employees escaped the burning structures yesterday, they were able to rescue an oral history and some photographs.
Seven employees were working when the fire occurred and none were injured, said Mr. Litterst.
The structures that burned -- including the park superintendent’s office -- are located about two miles from the visitors’ area. The portion of the memorial open to visitors includes a white stone wall of names of the passengers and crew members who perished when Flight 93 went down.
