On the evening of June 18, 2007 the City of Charleston, South Carolina experienced the deadliest firefighter disaster in the US since the attacks on September 11, 2001 - The Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire. On this tragic day 9 firefighters perished in the line of duty. 

The incident

The fire occurred at the Sofa Super Store, a 42,000 sq. ft. single-story steel truss showroom with a 17,000 sq. ft. warehouse located behind the retail space, located at 1807 Savannah Highway in Charleston, SC. At the time of the incident, the business was in operation and employees were present on the scene. Within minutes of the alarm, firefighters were arriving on scene from Charleston Fire Department and neighboring departments shortly thereafter.

The initial attack focused on fire suppression in the loading dock area with efforts to prevent fire spread to the showroom and warehouse. Despite the efforts of the firefighters on scene, the fire spread into and above the main showroom, the right showroom addition and the warehouse. The burning furniture quickly generated large amounts of toxic and highly flammable gasses and products of incomplete combustion that added to the fuel load inside the structure.  As heat intensified, interior firefighters began to radio for assistance leaving one firefighter to activate his emergency button on his radio. The front showroom windows were knocked out as firefighters were sent in to search for the missing firefighters. Shortly after, the mixture of combustible by-products ignited, rapidly advancing fire to the main showroom. The Sofa Super Store had no sprinkler system. Flames weakened the structure, causing a collapse and trapping nine firefighters inside.

The land that once housed the Sofa Super Store was purchased by the City of Charleston and is now a park that houses memorial plaques in remembrance of the nine firefighters who lost their lives on that site on June 18, 2007.

The nine firefighters who lost their lives on June 18, 2007.

Captain Louis Mulkey - Engine 15

Captain Mike Benke - Engine 16

Firefighter Melvin Champaign - Engine 16

Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson - Engine 19

Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity - Engine 19

Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton - Engine 19

Engineer Mark Kelsey - Tower 5

Engineer Michael French - Tower 5

Firefighter Brandon Thompson - Tower 5 

The lessons that day has changed the fire service as a whole for the better. My recommendation to everyone on this is simple. Read the reports of line of duty incidents. Learn from the actions taken that day, a long with the findings and recommendations put forth after the investigations are complete.

Here are a few initial changes recommended from the Sofa Super Store fire. The full list of recommended changes can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200718.html

• Develop, implement and enforce a written SOPs for an occupational safety and health program in accordance with NFPA 5000

• Develop, implement and enforce a written Incident Management System (IMS) to be followed at all emergency operations

• Ensure that the Incident Commander conducts an initial size-up and risk assessment of the incident scene before beginning interior firefighting operations

• Train fire fighters to communicate interior conditions to the Incident Commander as soon as possible and to provide regular updates

• Ensure that a rapid intervention crew (RIC) / rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available to immediately respond to emergency rescue incidents

• Ensure that Mayday transmissions are received and prioritized by the Incident Commander

• Train fire fighters on actions to take if they become trapped or disoriented inside a burning structure

• Ensure that all fire fighters and line officers receive fundamental and annual refresher training according to NFPA 1001 and NFPA 1021

We can post pictures saying "never forget" and "always remembered", however that isn't enough for these firefighters or any firefighter who loses their life in the line of duty. Each man and woman leaves behind a family, friends and those they cared for and those who cared for them. Simply saying we never forget truly isn't enough. Honoring them each and every day is how we show them the respect and honor for what they've done. Wake up each day honoring and remembering these firefighters through your action. Continue improving, learning and paying it forward to those around you. Take the lessons they left you from that day and learn from it. Pass these lessons on to future generations of firefighters and keep their memory alive in all you do. 

To the family, friends and surviving members of the Charleston Fire Department and the City of Charleston, may these men never be forgotten and may they always rest in peace.