CHARLESTON, S.C., June 19, 2007
9 Firefighters Perish In Charleston Blaze
Firemen Killed Fighting Furniture Store Fire; Deadliest Disaster For Firefighters Since 9/11
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Play CBS Video Video Charleston Reels After Fire Charleston, S.C., is mourning the loss of nine firefighters killed in a violent furniture store blaze. Kelly Cobiella reports that authorities aren't sure what caused the building to ignite.
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Video Training To Fight Fire Firefighters must learn to face numerous risks if they are to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible, and every fire provides new lessons. John Blackstone reports.
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Video 'Tornado Of Flames' Kills 9 Nine firefighters were killed after a deadly fire erupted at a furniture store in Charleston, S.C. Witnesses described the 30-foot blaze as a "tornado of flames." Claire Leka reports.
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A firefighter takes a moment after helping to put out the fire that claimed the lives of nine firefighters at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., on June 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
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Witnesses said the store's roof collapsed, throwing debris over about two dozen rescue workers. Onlookers were hit with flying ash. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
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Firefighters from Charleston, S.C., embrace in front of the rubble of the Sofa Super Store on June 19, 2007, in Charleston, S.C., after a fire in the store claimed the lives of nine firefighters. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
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An aerial view of the remains of the Sofa Super store in Charleston, S.C., on June 19, 2007. Nine firefighters lost their lives fighting a blaze at the store on Monday. (AP)
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Charleston Fire Department Chief Rusty Thomas embraces a colleague on June 19, 2007, after a news conference at which officials announced the names of the nine firefighters who died in the Sofa Super Store fire on Monday. (AP)
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Photo Essay Tragic Charleston Blaze Fire sweeps through warehouse, roof collapses, kills nine firefighters.
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Interactive FIRE! A look at major fires and their victims, arson facts, and those who fight the flames.
"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," Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference on Tuesday. "To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."
Witnesses could still see firefighters among the burning lamps and tables inside the Sofa Super Store, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. Outside, firefighters were smashing in windows when the glass began to blow out on its own from the intense heat and pressure. Ten minutes later, the roof came down and a tower of flames shot up more than 100 feet in the air.
Two employees in the building were rescued from the blaze, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Remarkably, at least seven firefighters made it out alive, too.
Firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers saluted as the firefighters' bodies were carried from the warehouse during the night.
"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," President Bush said in a statement issued in Washington.
The department has 237 firefighters in 19 companies located throughout the city of about 106,000. Fire Chief Rusty Thomas said he lost nine of his best friends.
"They did exactly what they were trained to do," he said. "We got a long road ahead of us, but we're going to stand tall. ... We're going to stand tall now and for years to come with the families and we will never forget; just like 9-11, we will never forget."
Investigators are still sifting through the ash, reports Cobiella. It was an older building and had no fire sprinkler system. The fire chief says sprinklers would have helped slow the fire but wouldn't say whether they could have saved lives.
Charleston Fire and Rescue Lt. Chad Watson told CBS' The Early Show the store lacked a sprinkler system and that "it was just a matter of time" before the building collapsed from the heat of the fire.
On Tuesday, officials identified the firefighters, men who had worked for the department anywhere from 18 months to 30 years. Killed were:
The fire was the worst single incident to claim firefighters' lives since the Sept. 11 attacks, which killed 340 firefighters, two paramedics and a chaplain, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It was the deadliest fire in South Carolina since a 1979 blaze killed 11 people in the Lancaster County jail.
(CBS)
"It was like a 30-foot tornado of flames," said Mark Hilton, who was struck in his eye.
Eric Glover told CNN that he and a number of other firefighters were at a golf tournament to benefit the family of a firefighter who had recently died when they heard the call come over their department radios. By the time he arrived, he said, the roof had already collapsed.
"It all happened pretty fast. They didn't really have a chance," Glover said.
"You're always close to the guys because you spend a third of your life with these guys. Every third day you spend 24 hours there, so you get real close," he said.
Firefighters went to a nearby car dealership asking for towels and quickly got additional help, said salesman Daniel Shahid.
"The next thing you know, we were carrying hoses, directing traffic, everybody from the dealership," he said.
Shahid said he saw firefighters rescue four people from the building.
"They were struggling. They were covered in black soot. They looked scared out of their minds," Shahid said.
He later told CNN the roof collapsed too quickly for anyone to escape.
"It came from nowhere," he said. "It was a standing structure and five seconds later it was on the ground."
Riley called the firefighters heroes.
"This is a profession that we must never take for granted," the mayor said. "There's a fire raging and they go toward it."
Gov. Mark Sanford ordered state flags lowered to half staff. "These are truly some of South Carolina's bravest, who in this case made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," he said.
Store owner Herb Goldstein said in a statement there were no words to express his sorrow.
"All of us at Sofa Super Store are devastated and heartbroken by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the heroic firefighters who lost their lives," he said.
He had owned the store for about 15 years, said his son, Jeff Goldstein.
In a small plaza next to the city's main fire house, notes and flowers were left at the base of a monument to firefighters Tuesday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you and your families. We are deeply saddened and want you all to know that we value your bravery and thank you for putting your lives on the line to keep us all safe. God bless you all," read one note.
The buildings are located on what residents here refer to as the "auto mile," a commercial strip of car dealers, body shops and stereo installers.
Update: A previous version of this story contained information from "The Early Show" in which CBS affiliate WCSC-TV correspondent Amanda Fitzpatrick reported residents had told her three residences near the warehouse had burned; it was later determined only the warehouse was affected.
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Add a Comment See all 74 Comments
- Seems everyone who is questioning WHY they went into the building to save a "business" has no knoweldge of what happened or what they were up against. Google the area and take note of all the surrounding areas and the possible extent of this tradegy. We are so thankful for these brave men who were part of a team and went forward as they had taken their vow to do. They trusted each other without a doubt. Something that others could take a lesson from for sure. Tonight I cannot sleep contemplating their lives -two of whom I knew personally. Make yourselfs useful and consider the families and what they now need from each of us.
As a lifelong resident I am thankful to have had the honor to know these great men.
To quote one of them... " You don't go in thinking you won't come out!" - Reply to this comment
- Seems everyone who is questioning WHY they went into the building to save a "business" has no knoweldge of what happened or what they were up against. Google the area and take note of all the surrounding areas and the possible extent of this tradegy. We are so thankful for these brave men who were part of a team and went forward as they had taken their vow to do. They trusted each other without a doubt. Something that others could take a lesson from for sure. Tonight I cannot sleep contemplating their lives -two of whom I knew personally. Make yourselfs useful and consider the families and what they now need from each of us.
As a lifelong resident I am thankful to have had the honor to know these great men.
To quote one of them... " You don't go in thinking you won't come out!" - Reply to this comment
- I am a South Carolina native having been born in Charleston. I grieve along with the rest of the fire departments, police departments, and other first responders in my great state. I didn't have to but I posted a note of sympathy on my church's web site (I am webmaster) on behalf of my church to the families of the falled fire fighters and all the others who are mourning their loss.
From what I have heard, what fueled the fire was the materials used in the manufacture of the furniture. The materials were petroleum based, i.e., foam, etc. which caused the fire to burn that much hotter and the smoke that much blacker. When you have material that is cotton based, it does not burn that fast and can more easily be put out with fire hoses. As to how the fire spread from a trash receptable to inside the building, that is up to the investigators to find out.
Just pray for the families of the fallen firefighters and the other firefighters who have lost their brothers in arms. They are a close knit community and are close to each other. - Reply to this comment
- FascistUSA is drunk with his own anger...stupid with it.
These firefighters were trying to save the people supposedly trapped inside the building while many of their brothers were outside soaking the surrounding neighborhood, trying to create a firebreak to save homes from destruction. I don't believe saving the "business" entered into anyone's mind, including the "business owner's".
I pity someone so intoxicated with hatred that he can't connect with the rest of humanity. - Reply to this comment
- In response to "fascistusa":
The firefighters were trying to save what??
A BUSINESS.
What do they Cops, Firefighters, and Local/State/National Government care about protecting??
There was a time after accusation like this in our local media that I asked my husband - a firefighter Lt. about putting his and other lives in danger for a building. His response to me was that they DON'T do that. Their concern is PEOPLE. If they know that no one is in the building, then they do not rush in and endanger themselves unnecessarily, but fight the fire from a "safer" vantage point. They will absolutely go in and put their lives in jeopardy if they believe that a person is inside -which was the case this time. They don't have time to investigate and find out if a report of a person inside is true or just a rumor. And sometimes they do go in and it turns out that nobody was really inside. Does it make them any less of a hero because they acted on information that they believed was true at the time, even if it wasn't? These 9 men believed that LIVES were in danger, and they went in to save them. To accuse firefighters of caring more about a stupid building than the family that they leave behind to go on and try to rebuild their lives without them - well, that's about the most assinine comment I've read yet on this board.
May God bless and comfort the families these heroes left behind. - Reply to this comment
- The firefighters were trying to save what??
A BUSINESS
Posted by fascistusa at 12:43 AM : Jun 20, 2007
In response to you question Fascistusa..... they were in there to save people, you know, humans, those things with feelings, something you know nothing of. Please have some respect and leave your issues out of this!
"These are truly some of South Carolina's bravest, who in this case made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," - Reply to this comment
- IN - 1988 - I BELIEVE 15 FIREFIGHTERS WERE KILLED AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN KANSAS CITY, WHEN AN EXPLOSIVES TRAILER BLEW UP, AND ALSO TOOK OUT ABOUT 5 FIRE ENGINES, TOTALING THEM ALSO, THE BLAST COULD BE HEARD FROM AS FAR AWAY AS 20-MILES !!
- Reply to this comment
- The firefighters were trying to save what??
A BUSINESS.
What do they Cops, Firefighters, and Local/State/National Government care about protecting??
BUSINESS.
Let Hurricane Katrina represent how much our FASCIST GOVERNMENT CARES ABOUT We The People. - Reply to this comment
- Future respondents, don't reply to "PESOS" comments. He/She is looking for a quick fix in the form of an argument..don't waste any more time on that...focus on more important (and relevant) comments. Ignore ignorance like that.
- Reply to this comment
- pesos
you need to leave the country. - Reply to this comment
- seven-pesos
You are a cold blooded person. Lives were lost in the process of saving others. Your day of need will come as will for your loved ones. I hope people don't have the reaction you are having right now. May God have mercy on your soul. You will need it. This could have happened anywhere. What does the fact that it happened in the south have to do with anything? - Reply to this comment
- I am a Fire Officer (19 years) in a full time paid Fire Dept. of over 900 uniformed personnel. I have read all the comments posted and would agree that the most appropriate thing for us to do at this time is to grieve with the families and keep them in our prayers. I would also encourage everyone to contribute monetarily to the families, as they will have great need for our assistance in the coming days ahead. I do not fault those who have questions about fire ground procedures and decisions that were made during the course of the fire. It is a normal reaction for some people to ask why and how the events unfolded as they did. Perhaps that is their way of dealing with so great a loss. For the good of the Fire Service in general, we need to ask those questions and see if we can find ways to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future. Personnally, I believe an investigation for the purpose of developing after action reports should wait. Now is the time to be sensitive to the needs of the families to grieve. May God bless them in the days ahead.
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- I don't understand the point in many people posting comments criticizing, blaming, and even some, downplaying, the saddness of this event. If fingers are to be pointed, blame to be made, crys to be heard, does it have to be done here, and right now? Just for a minute, take a little longer, and thank the people who lost their lives. Maybe they should have been in there, maybe not. But that does not take away from the fact that some are without husbands, dads, brothers, friends, etc. Just shut your mouth for a while, say a prayer (or atleast mutter some thanks), and continue with your questions tomorrow. Right now is the time for appreciation, gratitude, and sorrow. Hopefully we will all learn from this, and soon maybe fewer will die, and even fewer will be so negative. There is a time and place for everything, and right now just be respectful. My prayers are with the families affected.
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- My hubby is a firefighter (24 years now)....and
would go in without hesitation if it meant saving any of you, regardless of your opinions.
He's searched many a building/home after being
told "someone's still inside" only to find
out that actually no one was inside. That's part of the job - a noble part - others above self.
God bless these families that have lost their loved ones. - Reply to this comment
- I join my prayers with those of the nation to comfort the families of those who so selflessly gave their lives. As the wife of a firefighter, I cannot imagine what they are going through. The knowledge that they died saving lives has to be of comfort. Comments about their lives being lost in vain are not helpful. There have been reports that they believed someone else was still in the building. When they lost contact with outside, other firefighters did what any other firefighter would do - they rushed in to save their brothers. They are heroes, plain and simple. They know going in to the job that there is a risk, and their families live with that risk every day. But the possibility of making a difference keeps these guys going - in the midst of inadequate pay (most require a second job to make ends meet), political garbage, and the risks they take every time they go out on a call. God bless all our firefighters, police officers, and soldiers, for laying it all on the line for other people. May we appreciate them, not just today, but everyday.
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- fd-ac
sir - thanks for your comments. It's tough to deal with losing 9 brothers. - Reply to this comment
- I am appalled at the negative comments and the lack of intelligence regarding the fire service by some of the comments...yes, its easy to sit on the sidelines and throw stones - which most of you generating the negativity most likely spend your obviously meaningless lives doing. These 9 did not go to work to die - nobody made an intentional decision to send these 9 brave firefighters to their death.... The focus must be on the families of these 9, and the members of the Charleston Fire Department...to restore their lives, and the rest of the fire service family to learn from this tragic event. Instead of bashing them - say a prayer for them and their families...Lord knows, they would have worked as hard to save you.
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- thg - you're not even worth engaging. Have a great evening.
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- Little you knew that morning God was going to call their names, in life you loved them dearly, in death you do the same. It broke your hearts to lose them, they did not go alone. For part of you went with them, the day God called them home. They left you beautiful memories, thier love is still your guide and though you cannot see them, they are always by your side. Your family chains are broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls you one by one those chains will link again.
God Bless all of you and may He give you the strength you need during this very difficult period in each of your lives. - Reply to this comment
- thg - you a firefighter?
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