NORWICH – Five years ago, Norwich Fire Captain Tim Christophersen was witness to one of the most horrifying American atrocities of our time. Christophersen was present in New York City when the World Trade Center was attacked.

Christophersen was sent to New York City for officer training school. He arrived on the day before the attacks and that following morning during his second day of classes, the city fell under attack. He was in class when a fire chief entered the classroom and told them of what was happening. They all went to an adjacent room and watched the first attack unfold on television. After the second plane hit they were called to the scene. “We got on some bus with EMS and it took us into the site,” said Christophersen. “There was only so much we could do, there was lots of medical, fire and emergency personnel,” he said. “It was surreal; there was a sea of firefighters, it looked like battle lines and fire trucks where just twisted like ribbon,” he said.“ You could look down between the buildings and it looked like heavy snow was falling.”