Charleston Sofa Super Store fire

The Sofa Super Store burns shortly after the roof collapsed with nine firefighters trapped inside.

The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire occurred on June 18, 2007, in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, in which a flashover and structural collapse contributed to the deaths of nine Charleston firefighters.

Fire and collapse

Hours after the collapse, firefighters continue mop-up work and recovery efforts to locate missing firefighters.

The fire occurred at the Sofa Super Store, which was composed of a 42,000 ft² (3,902 m²) single-story steel trussed showroom building with a 17,000 ft² (1,579 m²) warehouse building located behind the retail space,^[1] located at 1807 Savannah Highway in the West Ashley area of Charleston. The building had no fire sprinkler system , which would have cost approximately $3 per square foot. The fire started at approximately 7:00 p.m. in a covered loading dock area built between the showroom and warehouse buildings which was attached to both buildings.^[2] At the time, the business was still open and employees were present. Charleston firefighters arrived on the scene just three minutes after the alarm, followed soon after by firefighters from the St. Andrews Public Service District.

The initial attack focused on extinguishing the fire in the loading dock area, with a secondary effort to search for and evacuate civilians, and to prevent the fire from spreading to the showroom and warehouse. Crews entering the showroom reportedly initially encountered clear visibility with only very light puffs of smoke visible near the ceiling at the back of the showroom. Shortly thereafter, an exterior door was opened near where the fire was raging. Efforts to close the door failed, allowing the fire to enter the showroom. Firefighters were ordered to stretch two hose lines into the showroom to attack the spreading fire, however the pre-connected hose line from one of the units was too short, requiring some firefighters to again exit the building to add additional sections of hose and leaving only one small handline to hold back the growing fire. At about this time, fire dispatchers advised the crews on-scene that they had received a 9-1-1 call from an employee who was trapped in the warehouse, which required some firefighters to direct their attention to the rescue. The trapped employee was eventually rescued by firefighters who breached an exterior wall to reach him.^[3]

Despite efforts to confine and extinguish the fire, it continued to spread into the structure and ignited furniture in the showroom, growing more quickly than the few operating hose lines could control before additional water could be applied to the fire, however efforts to stretch and begin operating additional hose lines continued.^[3][4] At 7:41 p.m. the showroom area of the store experienced a flashover while at least sixteen firefighters were still working inside. The flashover contributed to the rapid deterioration of the structural integrity of the building, leading to a near-complete collapse of the roof just minutes later. Many of the firefighters caught in the flashover were unable to escape and were trapped under the collapsed roof and shelving weakened by the fast-spreading fire. Several calls for help were made by trapped firefighters and efforts to rescue them were commenced. These efforts proved unsuccessful. By the time the fire was brought under control, nine Charleston firefighters had been killed.

The fire started during waning rush hour traffic, and the Sofa Super Store site was on a major business and commuter artery feeding the suburbs and shopping centers of Charleston. Car traffic continued unabated for many critical minutes in the initial stages of the fire, driving over water supply lines and contributing to severe water supply problems, as the supply lines snaked from hydrants in surrounding blocks up to a half-mile away from the center of the fire. Eventually automobile traffic on Savannah Highway was stopped so that water pressure would be more consistent, the traffic diversion causing the surrounding neighborhoods to fill with stranded commuters and onlookers. As the fire diminished and appeared contained, nearing 11:00 PM, surrounding neighborhoods began to clear and onlookers went home, most unaware of the loss of life during the blaze.

According to Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten, the firefighters died of a combination of smoke inhalation and burns, but not from injuries sustained from the collapse itself.^[5] It was the greatest single loss of firefighters in the United States since 343 firefighters were lost in the collapse of the World Trade Center which resulted from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It was also the deadliest fire in the state of South Carolina since 11 people died in a blaze at the Lancaster County jail in 1979.^[6]

Timeline

• 7:08 p.m. - First call reporting the fire is received.
• 7:09 p.m. - Dispatched units: Charleston Fire Department Engine 10, Engine 11, Ladder 5 and Battalion 4.^[7]
• 7:10 p.m. - Battalion 4 arrives on scene. Dispatched units: Car Charleston Fire Department Engine 16 and Car 2.^[7]
• 7:11 p.m. - Engine 11 arrives first and reports a trash and debris fire that is up against the wall in the loading dock area, but that they have not yet entered the building to check for extension. Engine 10 and Car 2 arrive.^[7]
• 7:12 p.m. - Ladder 5 arrives. Engine 12 is dispatched.^[7]
• 7:13 p.m. - Engine 15 is dispatched.^[7] (approximate) Fire crews enter the showroom building and find no obvious fire, however some light smoke is visible near the ceiling tiles near where the fire burns outside. A door leading from the showroom to the loading dock area is opened by the Incident Commander, and the force of the fire pulls the door out of his hand. The inrush of oxygen feeds the fire and makes it impossible to close the door. Fire enters the showroom.
• 7:14 p.m. - The Incident Commander reports fire in the showroom.
• 7:15 p.m. - Engine 16 arrives and enters the showroom to join Ladder 5's crew attacking the fire from inside. Engine 19 is dispatched.^[7]
• 7:16 p.m. - Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas (Car 1) arrives, several off-duty firefighters also begin to arrive. Engine 6 is dispatched.^[7] Inadequate water supply begins to be a problem, which is compounded by some hoses being run over by passing vehicles.
• 7:17 p.m. - Engine 12 and Engine 15 arrive.^[7]
• 7:20 p.m. - Engine 19 arrives.^[7] Problems continue with the water supply.
• 7:21 p.m. - Engine 6 arrives.^[7]
• 7:24 p.m. - Battalion 5 arrives. St. Andrew Car 3 (from neighboring St. Andrews Public Service District) decided on their own to respond and soon request more help from St. Andrews crews.^[7]
• 7:25 p.m. - St. Andrews Engine 2 and St. Andrews Rescue 1 arrive.^[7]
• 7:26 p.m. - An employee of the Sofa Super Store calls 911 and reports that he is trapped in the warehouse building. The crew from St. Andrews is notified of the trapped employee and attempts to locate him from the outside.
• 7:29 p.m. - (approximate) The trapped employee is rescued when the St. Andrews firefighters breach an exterior wall and pull him out of the building.
• 7:31 p.m. - The first firefighters in the building have been breathing from their air bottles for approximately eighteen minutes and will soon run out of air. Conditions in the showroom continue to worsen while at least sixteen firefighters continue to work inside. Engine 3 is dispatched.^[7]
• 7:32 p.m. - A firefighter inside calls "Mayday!" over his radio. Soon after, another voice on the radio is heard to say "Car One (Chief Thomas). Please tell my wife that ... 'I love you.'" Another firefighter inside is heard on the radio saying "...in Jesus's name, amen." Chief Thomas orders his commanders to account for their crews and is told that some firefighters remain inside. One firefighter attempting to escape is trapped behind the large glass in front of the showroom, and is freed when someone smashes it as other crews prepare to enter the building to rescue firefighters in distress. An emergency alert is activated on the radio of Ladder 5's engineer, who is inside, but calls to that radio go unanswered. Several PASS devices worn by firefighters are heard, meaning that firefighters in distress have manually activated them or have been motionless for at least 30 seconds. Firefighters begin smashing all of the glass in front of the store to allow escaping firefighters out and rescuing firefighters in, but this allows large amounts of oxygen to reach the fire, which quickly begins to grow in intensity.
• 7:38 p.m. - Chief Thomas orders a full evacuation.
• 7:40 p.m. - Engine 3 arrives.^[7]
• 7:41 p.m. - (approximate) A flashover occurs. Virtually all of the interior of the showroom building erupts in fire within seconds. Chaotic radio traffic now ties up the radio channels, but calls about water supply problems continue. A final, unsuccessful attempt at rescue is made but quickly forced back by the intensity of the fire.
• 7:45 p.m. - The front of the showroom building collapses, sending a fireball and smoke plume out the front of the building, over the heads of fleeing firefighters and showering hundreds of onlookers with ash and debris. Fire then shoots 30 feet (9 m) into the air as much of the rest of the structure collapses.
• 10:00 p.m. - (approximate) After the fire is brought under control, the remains of two of the firefighters' bodies are found near the center of the building.
• 10:45 p.m. - (approximate) Charleston Mayor Joe Riley announces that several firefighters remain missing.
• 11:00 p.m. - (approximate) The bodies of two more firefighters are located about 30 feet (9 m) from the first group.
• 11:15 p.m. - (approximate) Three firefighters' bodies are found at the South end of the building.
• 4:00 a.m. - (approximate) The remaining two missing firefighters are located at the Northeast corner of the building.^[8][9]

The firefighters

Company	Rank	Name	Age	Years of Service
Engine 15	Captain	Louis Mulkey	34	11½ years
Engine 16	Captain	Mike Benke	49	30 years
Engine 16	Firefighter	Melven Champaign	46	2 years
Engine 19	Captain	William "Billy" Hutchinson	48	30 years
Engine 19	Engineer	Bradford "Brad" Baity	37	9 years
Engine 19	Firefighter	James "Earl" Drayton	56	32 years
Tower 5	Engineer	Mark Kelsey	40	12½ years
Tower 5	Engineer	Michael French	27	1½ years
Tower 5	Firefighter	Brandon Thompson	27	4 years[10][11]

Investigations

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley speaks to the press with Charleston Fire Battalion Chief Ricky Shriver.

About fifty investigators in all have been assigned to the investigation, including the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) national response team.^[4][12] The ATF confirmed on June 23 that the fire originated in the covered loading dock area situated between the showroom and warehouse buildings,^[2] in a pile of trash near an area where employees were known to take smoking breaks.^[3] Neither of the destroyed buildings had sprinklers, nor were they required by local codes to have them.

The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation will investigate the Charleston Fire Department's procedures and training in light of the deaths.^[4] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), as always when a firefighter line-of-duty-death occurs, is expected to conduct an independent investigation of the incident.^[13] The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will assist NIOSH by reconstructing the fire with a computer simulation.^[14]

On Monday, July 2, 2007, Chief Rusty Thomas told the CDC (which oversees NIOSH, the federal department that investigates firefighter fatalities) that his department would not allow federal investigators to interview firefighters about the Sofa Super Store fire.^[15] On Tuesday, July 3, 2007, the head of NIOSH wrote to Chief Thomas, asking him to reconsider. On Thursday, July 5, 2007, the city relented when Mayor Joe Riley called the CDC to say that interviews would be allowed.^[15] CDC spokesman Fred Blosser, in an interview with msnbc.com said, "This is a developing situation. This morning we were notified that the chief has said that he will grant access to the firefighters. Earlier this week, he had indicated that he was denying access to the firefighters for interviews."^[15] Mayor Riley replied that it was all a misunderstanding. He said Chief Thomas was merely trying to minimize the number of interviews of his weary and grieving firefighters, not to block any investigation.^[15]

The U.S. Fire Administration will also investigate the fire, to incorporate lessons into the curriculum at the National Fire Academy.^[16]

Charleston panel

A panel of outside experts was convened by the City of Charleston to examine the city's fire department and its handling of the Sofa Super Store fire. The panel includes Gordon Routley, Kevin Roche, Tim Sendelbach, Brian Crawford, Mike Chiramonte, and Pete Piringer.^[17] Mayor Joe Riley stated that the panel's work will be divided into three parts. First, the team will conduct an "intense diagnostic analysis" of the fire department and its practices and procedures. The mayor has indicated this phase should only take about a month, and any recommendations will be acted on immediately. Second, the team will compile reports from local, state, and federal investigators into one report the city can work from. That phase is expected to last approximately four months. Last, the panel will create a long term strategic plan that will chart a future course for the city's fire department.^[17]

Brian Crawford, in an interview with KTBS-TV News said, "That report is going to lend so much information to other fire departments across the country who may be operating the same way that Charleston was. It may have them step back and look at their own organizations."^[18]

Moving with astonishing speed, the six person panel came out with a list of initial recommendations in less than a week. Speaking of the recommended changes, Gordon Routley said, "I think there are areas that are significant firefighter safety issues that, to us, need to be implemented as soon as possible."^[19]

The initial changes recommended by the panel include:^[20]

• Establishing a Deputy Chief/Assistant to the Chief position
• Establishing a Fire Department Safety Officer position
• Establishing a Public Information Officer
• Having a minimum of two dispatchers on-duty at all times
• Maintaining a minimum staffing of three on-duty firefighters at all times on all existing engine and ladder companies
• An incremental movement over two years to achieve four on-duty firefighters on all fire companies
• Applying appropriate incident command procedures on all incidents
• Reinforcing appropriate use of personal protective clothing and SCBA
• Reinforcing the use of seat belts and standard emergency response vehicular operations
• Ensuring that "2-in/2-out" is followed at all times
• Developing management procedures for off-duty firefighters that respond to emergencies
• Implementing Incident Command and tactical operations training for all officers
• Providing training for firefighter safety and survival, risk management, air management, lost/disoriented firefighters, rapid intervention operations, objective-based tactical operations, and other critical firefighter safety procedures
• Providing incident safety officer training for all command officers and health and safety officer training to selected personnel
• Assuring that all new firefighters are trained and certified to the Firefighter II level before assignment to emergency duty, with South Carolina Fire Academy support
• Increasing the initial response to a structure fire to three engines and a ladder, with the third engine as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
• Responding the Assistant Chief, a second Battalion Chief, a fourth engine company, and an ambulance to a confirmed working structure fire
• Utilizing the second-arriving Battalion Chief as the Safety Officer unless a staff Safety Officer is already on scene
• Eliminating 10-codes and use designated tactical channels for major incidents
• Changing to large diameter supply hose
• Using a minimum of 1½" hose for fire attack and standardizing nozzle configurations

SLED inquiry

In early 2010, Charleston area solicitor Scarlett Wilson requested a SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) inquiry into the fire to determine if criminal charges should be pursued. After an initial inquiry, SLED returned a statement that the fire "does not meet the criteria for a SLED criminal investigation."^[21]

Criticism

The City of Charleston refused help from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in planning the memorial, which exacerbated tensions between the IAFF and South Carolina Firefighters' Association (SCFA).^[22] The IAFF's General President Harold Schaitberger has charged that Mayor Joseph Riley and Fire Chief Rusty Thomas are not "labor friendly" and that Charleston is an "openly anti-union city".^[22]

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and other fire safety experts, including Roger L. Yow, president of the Charleston Firefighters Association and a former captain with 25 years of service in the department,^[23] have been critical of the manner in which the fire was handled. Union officials and other fire safety experts claim the City of Charleston Fire Department did not follow procedures consistent with the National Incident Management System.^{[15][24][25][26]} South Carolina governor Mark Sanford directed all state and local emergency response agencies to adopt the system in 2005.^[24][27] Acting state fire marshal John Reich said the state does not inspect the operating procedures of fire departments, but they assume that departments are following guidelines prescribed in the National Incident Management System.^[27] Some fire safety experts have also questioned why so many firefighters were in a burning building with a steel truss roof, which is known to be a serious safety hazard for firefighters.^[24][26][28] A routine fire preplan of the structure in June 2006 made no mention of its roof construction,^[15][27] and it has been suggested that CFD firefighters did not pull the ceiling to check for extension into the roof structure.^[15]

In a telephone interview with The Charlotte Observer, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley responded to critics by saying, "I have absolute confidence in our procedures and in the leadership."^[24] Chief Thomas and some firefighters with the City of Charleston dismiss critics as outsiders who don't understand the realities of fighting fires in a dense city full of historic buildings.^[25] The Post and Courier has quoted Chief Thomas as saying "Our firefighting techniques are not going to change in the City of Charleston Fire Department [...] We're safe, we've got the best equipment, we've got the best people and that's the way we fight fires."^[23] Chief Thomas has indicated that his men performed just as they were trained, and he wouldn't do anything differently if the same fire happened again.^[15][25][26] Greg Hambrick, reporting for the Charleston City Paper questioned the chief's reply. "It was an odd response considering a very hush-hush investigation is ongoing and Riley had said several times since the fire that lessons would be learned. Considering nine guys walked into the fire and didn't come out, there must be something that could protect our firefighters next time."^[26] Charleston mayoral candidate Dudley Gregorie, referring to the incident, said "To keep doing things the same way, and expecting different results, is insanity."^[29]

Some fire experts have questioned why the exterior front windows were taken out by firefighters while crews were committed inside, an action that could have fed oxygen to the fire and drawn flames to the front of the store.^[30] Assistant Fire Chief Larry Garvin has stated that fire blew out the windows, at which time firefighters broke open more windows to allow firefighters to escape.^[31]

Questions have also been raised about CFD's use of booster lines to fight the Sofa Super Store fire.^[32][33][34] Booster lines are only 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, and deliver only 30 US gallons (110 l; 25 imp gal) to 60 US gallons (230 l; 50 imp gal) of water per minute, much less than a standard 1.75-inch (44 mm) attack line, which delivers up to 150 US gallons (570 l; 120 imp gal) of water per minute.^[32] The smaller booster lines are less effective against very large fires, and offer less protection to firefighters when flames get out of control.^[32] Chief Thomas has said that he doesn't know who pulled the booster lines that can be seen in photographs and videos of the fire, but he doubts that they extended more than 15 feet (5 m) inside the structure, and he insists none were used to fight the fire inside.^[32]

Analysis of photographs and video has also raised concerns about firefighters, including chief officers, who were not utilizing personal protective equipment appropriately.^[35] Some firefighters were wearing street clothes, while others had open coats or were missing helmets. Some firefighters could be seen walking through toxic smoke without air packs. Fire Chief Rusty Thomas has indicated that everyone inside the structure, including the nine fallen firefighters, were wearing the appropriate protective equipment.^[35]

Although thermal imaging cameras were available on the scene, they were not used in the scene size-up or to help find victims.^[36]

Memorials

A public memorial service for the fallen firefighters took place on Friday, June 22, 2007 at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston.^[37] A procession of more than 300 fire engines, ladder trucks, ambulances, and command vehicles which stretched approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) long moved single file along a route which passed each of the three fire stations from which firefighters were lost as well as past the site of the fatal fire, while bystanders, police officers, and ATF agents paid their respects by saluting or holding their hands over their hearts.^[38] The procession then moved along Interstate 526 to the North Charleston Coliseum. An estimated 30,000 people, including as many as 8,000 firefighters representing over 700 emergency services agencies from around the country attended the gathering.^[39][40]

The largest of several funds established for the families of the fallen firefighters raised nearly $1.2 million to benefit the families of the fallen firefighters.^[6][41] This figure does not include an additional $100,000 donated by the Leary Firefighters Foundation,^[42] nor several other funds established since the incident. In addition, Sofa Super Store owner Herb Goldstein established the Charleston Nine Scholarship Endowment with a startup donation of $100,000, which will help defray the costs of college tuition for first responders and to children or dependents of both first responders currently serving and those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.^[12] Other shops and businesses around the city also accepted donations or contributed a portion of their sales towards the families of the fallen firefighters.

Numerous firefighters from the area accepted an offer from a local tattoo parlor, which employed a St. Andrews firefighter who escaped the collapse, to receive a free tattoo memorializing the lost Charleston firefighters. Firefighters were invited to choose from several memorial designs created specifically as remembrances of the lost firefighters.^[43]

Mayor Joe Riley announced on June 27, 2007, that the City of Charleston had reached a tentative agreement with Sofa Super Store owner Herb Goldstein to turn the site of the tragedy into a park with a memorial for the nine fallen firefighters.^[44] The following day, Riley proposed a second memorial be included in a planned, but controversial,^[45] county park. "It could be where every firefighter in the region goes for their picnic," Riley said. The second memorial has been criticized as a move to garner support for the county park project.^[46]

On March 25, 2008, it was announced that South Carolina state lawmakers had approved a bill to name a 3.6 mile stretch of U.S. Route 17 in honor of the fallen Charleston firefighters. The designated section, to be named the "Charleston Nine Memorial Highway", runs from the intersection with S.C. Highway 171 to Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and includes the site of the fire.^[47]

The Summerville High School basketball team, of which Captain Louis Mulkey was an assistant coach, was presented with a custom memorial fire helmet by the Charleston Fire Department. The team placed the helmet on the bench for each of the team's games in the 2007-08 season. Summerville went on to win its first-ever state basketball championship.^[48]

Notable statements

“	Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties. To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them [...] This is a tragic event for our community, the magnitude of which is difficult to fathom or quantify.	”
—City of Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., [6][10]

“	What happened in Charleston last night is an all too tragic reminder of the danger faced by firefighters and other men and women in uniform as they put themselves in harm's way each and every day to keep the rest of us safe. These are truly some of South Carolina's bravest, who in this case made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. I'd ask each and every South Carolinian to join me, Jenny and the boys in keeping these nine families in our thoughts and prayers in the difficult weeks and months ahead.	”
—South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, [37]

“	Last night 9 brave firefighters from my district lost their lives in the line of duty. Responding to a fire in the West Ashley area of Charleston, these men made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our community in what was the single worse loss of firefighters since 9/11. This tragedy is a somber reminder of the dangers our first responders face on a daily basis as they serve to protect us and our property. We are forever grateful for their service and deeply saddened by their loss. These men, who had over 100 years of service among them, gave their life doing a job they loved.	”
—South Carolina Congressman Henry Brown, [49]

“	Not since 9/11 have we been reminded so poignantly of the sacrifice our first responders make to protect our safety. These nine firefighters gave the ultimate sacrifice last night doing the jobs they loved. As Charlestonians, South Carolinians and Americans, we are grateful for their service and deeply saddened by their loss. Our hearts go out to their families and their colleagues. This devastating loss is one that touched the hearts of our entire nation, and we grieve with them. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, 'Everybody can be great because anybody can serve...You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.' These firefighters were public servants in the truest sense. They answered the call to serve their community, and today Charleston is a better place for their service. Between the nine that perished was a combined 100 years of service to the Charleston fire department. This is a remarkable testament to their dedication and selflessness. Their experience and service cannot be replaced and their contributions will not be forgotten.	”
—South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, [49]

“	Laura and I mourn the devastating loss of some of America's Bravest. Our prayers are with the families and friends of nine firefighters from Charleston, South Carolina, who selflessly gave their own lives to protect their community. These firefighters were true heroes who demonstrated great skill and courage. Their unwavering commitment to their neighbors and to the City of Charleston is an inspiration to all Americans.	”
—U.S. President George W. Bush, [50]

See also

Fire portal

• Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
• National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System
• Leary Firefighters Foundation
• Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire

Gallery

The following images show what the Sofa Super Store looked like the day after the fire.

• 

  The center of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom

• 

  The center of the showroom

• 

  The north end of the showroom (furniture is visible inside)

• 

  The north end of the showroom

• 

  The south end of the showroom with the warehouse behind it

• 

  A neighbor's house. The vinyl siding melted from the heat.

• 

  The warehouse from behind

• 

  The warehouse from behind

• 

  The warehouse from behind

• 

  The warehouse from the neighboring car lot.

The following are images of the memorial placed along the sidewalk in front of the Super Super Store.

• 

  The Sofa Super Store sign (north side)

• 

  The Sofa Super Store sign (south side)

• 

  Wreaths and fireman's shirts

• 

  People viewing the memorials

• 

  A poster on the store's sign

• 

  Flags, photos, flowers, and wreaths

• 

  Flowers. The flag covered the sign before the letters were changed

• 

  Fireman shirts

• 

  Nine Stuffed dogs

• 

  Nine roses

• 

  Flags (there are many groupings of nine flags)

References

1. ^ "Super Sofa Store building had long history," The Post and Courier, June 23, 2007. Accessed June 23, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Fire started in loading dock, ATF confirms," The Post and Courier, June 23, 2007. Accessed June 23, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c} "'It Looked Like Hell Was Burning'" Newsweek, June 23, 2007. Accessed June 28, 2007.

   Complete information about the first alarm has not yet been released by investigators or officials from the City of Charleston.

4. ^ ^{a b c} "Loss prompts grief, provokes questions" The Post and Courier, June 21, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2007.
5. ^ "Coroner: Charleston firefighters died of smoke inhalation, burns," The State, June 20, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2007.
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Investigation examining Charleston firefighters' handling of deadly blaze," KSLA-TV News 12, June 20, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2007.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} Firefighter Fatality Investigative Report
8. ^ "Collapse in 30 Minutes," The Post and Courier, June 19, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2007.
9. ^ "Trapped: The story of nine Charleston firefighters' deaths," The Post and Courier, August 19, 2007. Accessed August 19, 2007.
10. ^ ^{a b} "Nine 'courageous firefighters' die in warehouse blaze," CNN.com, June 20, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2007.
11. ^ "Charleston's Lost heroes," City of Charleston. Accessed June 23, 2007.
12. ^ ^{a b} "Site to be 'sacred' memorial" The Post and Courier, June 28, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2007.
13. ^ "Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program," CDC - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Accessed June 21, 2007.
14. ^ "NIST begins technical study of South Carolina warehouse fire," Continuity Central, June 17, 2007. Accessed June 17, 2007.
15. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Bill Dedman, "Charleston chief blocks fire probe, then relents," msnbc.com, July 5, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2007.
16. ^ Ron Menchaca and Glenn Smith, "Agency to study sofa store fire," The Post and Courier, August 4, 2007. Accessed August 4, 2007.
17. ^ ^{a b} Ron Menchaca, "Panel assembled to review fatal blaze," The Post and Courier, August 3, 2007. Accessed August 4, 2007.
18. ^ "SFD's Crawford to review Charleston fire disaster," KTBS-TV, August 7, 2007. Accessed August 8, 2007.
19. ^ Ron Menchaca, "Fire experts: Charleston Fire Dept. must change," The Post and Courier, August 18, 2007.
20. ^ "Charleston: Task Force's Initial Recommendations," As posted at the STATter 911 blog at WUSA-TV 9, August 17, 2007. Accessed August 18, 2007.
21. ^ SLED Releases New Sofa Super Store Fire Report
22. ^ ^{a b} "City Of Charleston Refused Help From IAFF And IAFC," FirefighterNews.com reprinted from STATer 911 June 25, 2007.
23. ^ ^{a b} Ron Menchaca and Doug Pardue,"Fire union wants changes," The Post and Courier, June 28, 2007. Accessed July 1, 2007.
24. ^ ^{a b c d} Eric Frazer, "Fire agency faces criticism," The State, June 30, 2007. Accessed July 1, 2007.
25. ^ ^{a b c} Ron Menchaca and Glenn Smith, "Are city of Charleston's firefighting techniques too bold?" The Post and Courier, July 1, 2007. Accessed July 1, 2007.
26. ^ ^{a b c d} "Firefighting Procedures Re-examined," Charleston City Paper, July 4, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2007.
27. ^ ^{a b c} Ron Menchaca and Doug Pardue, "Local, federal guidelines in conflict," The Post and Courier, June 24, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2007.
28. ^ Tony Bartelme and Ron Menchaca, "Steel trusses like those in the Sofa Super Store can mask growing fires," The Post and Courier, June 22, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2007.
29. ^ David Slade, "Gregorie criticizes city fire response," The Post and Courier, July 4, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2007.
30. ^ "Large Store Fire Tactics," FireTactics.com posted at TacticalVentilation.com, June 25, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2007.
31. ^ "Chief Defends Deployment Of Firefighters Into Burning Building," FirefightingNews.com, June 21, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2007.
32. ^ ^{a b c d} Ron Menchaca and Glenn Smith, "Experts Question Hose Choice," The Post and Courier, July 15, 2007. Accessed July 16, 2007.
33. ^ "Some question use of smaller hoses at deadly Charleston blaze," Associated Press article at Myrtle Beach Sun News, July 15, 2007. Accessed July 16, 2007.
34. ^ Brad Franko, "CFD says booster lines were support hose only," WCBD-TV News, July 16, 2007. Accessed July 16, 2007.
35. ^ ^{a b} Ron Menchaca and Glenn Smith, "Lapse in protection concerns some experts," Post and Courier, July 26, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2007.
36. ^ Ron Menchaca and Glenn Smith, "Heat sensors weren't used in fatal fire," The Post and Courier, July 29, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2007.
37. ^ ^{a b} "Memorial Service Friday for 9 S.C. Firefighters," Office of State Fire Marshal - SC Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, Accessed June 21, 2007.
38. ^ "Salutes, Tears During Procession To Firefighter Memorial Service," WCSC-TV News 5, June 22, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2007.
39. ^ "More than 10,000 gather to pay respects," The Post and Courier, June 23, 2007. Accessed June 23, 2007.
40. ^ "Thousands Gather As Charleston Mourns," KWTX-TV News 10, June 22, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2007.
41. ^ "To help," The Post and Courier, July 3, 2007. Accessed July 3, 2007.
42. ^ "The Leary Firefighters Foundation donates $100,000 to Charleston families" The Post and Courier, June 27, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2007
43. ^ "Firefighters using tattoos as permanent memorials," The Post and Courier, June 27, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2007.
44. ^ "City to turn fatal fire site into park and memorial," The Post and Courier, June 27, 2007. Accessed June 27, 2007.
45. ^ [1] The Post and Courier, June 1, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2007.
46. ^ [2] The Post and Courier, June 29, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2007.
47. ^ U.S. 17 stretch to honor firefighters who died in sofa store blaze The Post and Courier, March 25, 2008. Accessed March 27, 2008.
48. ^ ESPN - Storybook season found spark in firefighter's lost life - High School Sports
49. ^ ^{a b} "Congressmen Brown and Clyburn honor the Charleston firefighters", June 19, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2007.
50. ^ "President Mourns Loss of Nine Charleston, SC Firefighters," The White House, June 19, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2007.

External links

• Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Report - NIOSH report on the incident.
• Building and Fire Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
• National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Database
• National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System
• Firefighter Close Calls
• Charleston Fire Department
• Charleston Fire Discussed at Firehouse World Firehouse.com, Accessed February 6, 2008.

Media

• Sofa Super Store fire - Complete coverage by The Post and Courier
• Raw video: Sofa Super Store Fire WCBD-TV News 2, Accessed June 25, 2007.
• Charleston, S.C. Fireground Transmissions: June 18, 2007 Firehouse.com, Accessed June 25, 2007.
• Interactive aerial photograph The Post and Courier, Accessed June 27, 2007.
• Video: IAFF Press Conference - Local members of the IAFF talk about the incident
• "Summerville Remembers Fallen Coach Louis Mulkey," ESPN, June 2, 2008. Accessed June 17, 2008.

Coordinates: 32°47′16″N 80°01′20″W / 32.7878°N 80.0221°W / 32.7878; -80.0221