Final words: ‘Please God it’s so hot, I’m burning up’

FRANTIC callers trapped on the upper floors of the burning World Trade Center sought help from emergency operators who were unable to offer much more than words of encouragement, according to recordings of emergency phone calls from September 11, 2001, released yesterday.

“There’s heavy smoke and flames and the building management is announcing that everything is all right, and it’s not and they’re confused,” said one fire dispatcher after fielding a phone call from someone trapped on the 82nd floor.

Another operator, speaking to someone stranded on the 103rd floor, promised: “I’m going to do my best.”