Even 15 and a half years later after this incident, we are still using it as a case study for recruit firefighters to learn from. This one incident not only changed the culture of Charleston Fire Department, but the fire service as a whole. I been to the memorial park that’s there now, and last summer had the good fortune of meeting a mother of one of the captains that died that day.
It was my brother who first told me about this disaster when he went through training years back in Arkansas. Sister-in-Law is also a Firefighter in Missouri, and she said the same thing.
I am part of a fire department here in South Carolina. I am over 70 miles from Charleston and to this day we all have Charleston 9 stickers on all of our helmets. They will not be forgotten and their bravery is carried on with us.
My heart actually shattered when I heard the police chief taking blame. 13:52 can you imagine how heart shattering it would be to lose men you’ve worked with, likely became close friends with. Done every measure you could with the resources you had and to hear you were partially to blame for the loss you tried desperately to prevent? My heart seriously goes out to that man.
Thats what leadership is all about! 'The buck stops here' mentality typifies classic leadership. Unlike our politicians these days who always look to pin blame anywhere beyond themselves. The chief is a noble man.
It is much more honorable to look at what you could have done better than to run from it. By taking responsibility, policies were changed and the department was brought to better standards, helping prevent future occurrences like this. He understood that the important thing was to face it all, so that men could be saved in the future. He was a good leader. No one is ever immune from blame. We are all human, and though you do not aim to make costly mistakes, you understand that with such a dangerous job, your mistakes have huge consequences. When you take the job, you understand that you will have regrets, but you decide that you will be able to do more good by assuming your duty than by ignoring it. Although breaking open the windows caused flashover, I can’t say I would’ve known anything better to do in that situation. It was a very intense and dangerous fire, with few options available to fight it.
@@inconnu4961 Absolutely right! Many people think that leadership is just belting out orders, when there is a whole lot more to leadership than that. I honestly don't know if I could live with myself in a situation where I inadvertently added to the cause of someone else's death, but that was a risk I took the many times I was placed in charge of or took charge or command of a situation. Nobody is perfect and sometimes, there is no second chance. I wish there was some way to give some comfort to the Chief, this is not something one just "gets over it".
I find it interesting how out of all the public services, the fire department is one that’s most glossed over, but is one of the most honorable and noble of the batch. People going into a career that regularly has them brace themselves to enter something that every single human instinct says to run from. They deserve all the glory they get and more.
Im in new york and alot of firemen are the biggest pieces of shit. I respect the ones who do their job and takes pride in it. But alot of them over here are almost as bad as our police. Beating their wives . Being an overall terrible person
I don't think they're glossed over. In fact, unlike police officers who are controversial, firefighters are seen as absolute, pure heroes. No one hates them, no one talks badly of them, everyone is grateful for them. And they deserve it. They're incredibly popular. People will pay for their groceries when they go as a crew. People let them cut lines for fast food during their work day and businesses give them free food very often. I think they are well appreciated and know they are.
@@cynthiagonzalez1825 Better branding. And this is changing, at least in my area, with the invention of 24 hour shifts where they get paid to sleep and the comparatively huge raises they have gotten over the past 20 years compared to the average person. They work so few days any more that they all have full time 2nd jobs on top of making 100k per year plus from the city and the only way to get in is nepotism. They talk about 4 generations of firefighters like its a good thing. The resentment is growing.
I always asked my dad who just recently retired from Charleston fire department as battalion chief, how could this have happened to these firefighters? My dad was stationed in station 11. He had this day off. The next day he tells me he remembered his station being half empty because half of his crew died. He told me he couldn’t sleep and cried thinking about the guys he worked with that passed away.
Sometimes I’ll never understand why things happen, it makes me sick to think about the feeling being one of those about to die or one of those watching. So sorry.
This is why I love YT - I knew this would strike very close to home for some and I hope it was done with respect / care for you guys… thank you for sharing your stories, may your fathers find peace 🙏🏻
My dad was a firefighter for 35 years. On one occasion, a red hot piece of burning wood fell in his boot and he suffered third degree burns from it. He suffered immensely and required skin grafts. A very small price to pay compared to those 9 heroes. I cannot imagine what they felt when their coats started melting and they slowly burned to death. The worst way to go in my opinion. RIP to the 9 fallen heroes.
@@SimonTekConley Lmao are you retarded? This person is probably in their 30s-40s and father 70+ years old. There were no turnout pants when he would've been in you dumbfuck 😂 My grandfather (71) had a 3 quarter jacket and roll up boots and a fiberglass helmet 💀
my ex was a firefighter.... he was called out to a structural fire and leaned over the stove for support holding the hose n didnt realise his turnouts had a tiny hole in them that water had gotten into.... he got steam burns from it.... he was so embarassed when the headlines read something like 'firefighter burned on the buttocks sitting on a stove' lol xxx
Mad respect to the firefighters who risked their lives to fight such a monstrous fire. RIP to the nine brave souls who perished in this preventable disaster.
Only need the first 9 words in the first sentence imo. Mad respect for any firefighter who goes on a call, regardless if it is trivial or the fire of all fires. I don't care what job they do either. Every last firefighter is a damned hero in my book.
@@sendthis9480 Staright up. F people like you. I make a commennt IN SUPPORT OF EMNERGANCY SERVICES. But uittter scum l l;ike you try and make people question whayt I said. I hope your family has the worst year in alll of its existence. Because people like you are even less than scum.
@@whyjnot420 Woah! WTF is wrong with you? Did you seriously just wish “I hope your family has the worst year in all of its existence”???!!?!! What an emotional little drama queen. What are you….8? 9 years old? Control your feelings…little girl. IF you actually cared about commenting “IN SUPPORT OF EMERGANCY SERVICES”…you would do so withOUT edited someone else’s comments. You literally said: “What you care about isn’t important….imo…here’s what you should care about” Control your sanctimonious audacity…emotional little child. Nobody is handing out participation awards for slamming others. Pathetic little kid.
There is no need to ever enter into a dangerous situation nor are there any demands placed upon them to do so. If they enter such a building it’s foolishness on their part not heroics. No building is worth dying for plain and simple. The reality is Firefighting is actually a very safe job with a low fatality rate compared to many other jobs if done sensibly.
My father, who is pictured with me spent 32 1/2 years as a firefighter. Every time he returned from duty, I was grateful. I am so sorry for the families that lost their loved ones.
My boyfriend is a firefighter and I’m always terrified that something like this could happen to him. He doesn’t tell me that he went on a fire until after he gets back from it. Then I start thinking about what I was doing at the same time that he was risking his life. Thinking about how he could’ve died while I was doing something completely unaware is absolutely terrifying.
Being the close family, especially spouse, to “first responders” is very difficult, for a plethora of reasons. It seems like you have special feelings for this young man. If you consider a life with him, please consider everything you will have to endure. It’s much easier to acknowledge a mismatch, for whatever reason, as early as possible.
Pretty much, firefighting is only as dangerous as the firefighters and their LEADERS make it. Like this fire. Most on the job LODDs are from stupidity and irresponsibility, not unforeseen accidents.
Crap, that made me cry. That really sucks. It sucks that those men had to die just for things to get updated. It just makes it worse and proves that the saying "Policies are made with blood." Isn't just false but morbidly accurate.
I agree! I hate that we have to have tragedies before we take action to better the situation. It’s truly sad and my heart go out to the family’s of these brave firefighters.
Welcome to the real world, it goes with everything, from stop signs to traffic light... a lot of towns and counties won't put them in till there is multiple accidents or Loss of life. We are constantly fighting in the fire service with politics to make things safe but they never want to listen till something like this happens and then they act surprised and upset, but really i think they just want to get more TV time to make themself look better cause they really don't care that tragedies happen like this.
@@SlyShadowFox when I was younger, there was one road near my block which has two roads crossing the main one, there are no intersection lights there so there were a lot of crashes there mainly minor ones but a couple where people had to be ambulanced to the hospital... Firefighters were always the first to arrive since the local firestation was practically right there... still no lights at the spot but we're lucky and people seem to have gotten somewhat more "intelligent" with their driving so it's more rare for a crash to happen... would still prefer that there were lights there so the chance would be even smaller, not zero but better than current percentage chance of a crash happening
@@zachsmith1676 we have an intersection like that near us. They finally improved it and put in traffic lights. One of the streets that connects to it goes through our quiet neighborhood, has two parks/playgrounds along it, and we have a mix of young families with kids and older people who can’t move as fast as they used to. People cut through the neighborhood, usually speeding. We complain to the county and beg for traffic calming, but they say it’s not bad enough. I finally said to the others in our neighborhood group that I don’t think they’re going to do anything until someone gets hit by a car, and then they’ll act like they didn’t know it was a problem. I’m seriously considering using a day off from work to go to their office and tell them exactly that in person.
goes with any company in any industry. the almighty $$ counts first. very few are proactive and sadly, many are reactive. yes, it take some sort of loss for a company to make changes. it truly sucks when a suggested change is ignored and comes true later. for those involved. being able to say ' i told you so' brings no peace
I couldn’t even imagine hearing those alarms going off and not being able to go after them . I was at a fire one night when a mayday call came in , I was part of the RIT team . We were positioned at the front door . The mayday came in that 3 FF’s fell threw the first floor to the basement and couldn’t be reached by radio . The chief held us up until he could figure out exactly where they went through just so we didn’t go through the same hole . That feeling I’ll never forget . Knowing they needed us and we couldn’t go right after them . My team was ready regardless of what was happening . While we waited we started cutting through the exterior walls making egress points . Make a long story short , we got all 3 guys out and there still firefighters today
having them and enforcing them are 2 different things. this case is an example of having good codes, but no enforcement. also wrong are builders who build against code, they should be held accountable in cases like this
I worked for a place that was storing merchandise in a hallway. One day I said to a manager "Why don't we put shelves here to make it easier to organize it all?" The reply FROM THE MANAGER was "Well we're not really allowed ANYTHING here but we take care of the fire marshal so he doesn't say anything about it." I was disgusted by the level of corruption!
So many people looking for ways to die in a fire. But it's the fire marshal who is just plain gross. He's responsible for the firefighters who will die in that maze trying to save your former manager.
@@othername1000 Yeah let me call the fire marshal to report the fire marshal and get fired from my job. All in the word of one manager who would completely deny it. I once saw a fire inspector at a parking lot were cars were clearly parked in the fire zone. I commented that they never seem to get tickets for that and he said "yeah cuz they do it all the time." and walked away...
@@Moonshooter1 I highly doubt that this former manager would put himself in any actual danger. I'm sure that his actual working space is all up to standard and implementing the absolute latest safety protocols. They're only fine with putting lives of their employees in danger, never their own.
In my area you can't even get away with putting in a 4 x 6 deck without a permit without the city finding out. The fact that this store was able to add massive areas to their structure without permits tells you how the city either didn't have the personnel to stay on top of these things or they didn't care.
I'm a retired firefighter and former deputy fire marshal. I was visiting family in Charleston two weeks after the fire and stayed in a motel two blocks from Sofa Super Store. Out for a morning walk, I passed by the site and of course looked at it with a professional eye. At that time there was still a lot of confusion over what exactly happened, fingers were pointed, policies and procedures were being questioned, and there was lots of anger. I visited again after the site was made into a memorial park, and found it to be very emotional. What struck me, looking at the locations where each man died, was that every one died alone. Having followed the story and knowing the changes in the department, code enforcement, operational procedures, and adherence to national standards, it helps to know their deaths contributed to lives being saved through the lessons learned from this fire. Rest well, my brothers.
But it still takes you far too long to actually get water onto a fire 🤦🏻♂️ In UK it’s on within 30 seconds of arrival We don’t look for a hydrant first !!
@AndyC2_ You gotta find the hydrants man. It's pretty risky to have a big tall truck full of water careening around tight turns and bends. We lost a firefighter or two here in WV a couple years back because their tanker flipped over taking a turn due to water shifting l.
@@phantomaviator1318 If the water level in the tanks is full, it doesn’t shift or move as it has nowhere to go. The danger is if you have 1/2 tank then it can move about. Keep it full and there’s not an issue
The UK and the US are difficult to compare- we have huge country and there are huge differences region to region in population. As far as I knew, New York and Tokyo were considered the best fire departments in the world.
As a firefighter myself, it was hard to hear everything that went wrong. For those who don’t know, many fire departments in the USA pride themselves on being aggressive, interior-attacking departments. Much of the loss of life could’ve been prevented with an exterior attack
I was gonna ask that. Currently watching a documentary about German firefighters and as soon as it is clear all civilians are out, they stay outside and water the neighboring places so the fire cannot spread. Though over ten years have passed since this case and the amount of knowledge then and now differs.
@@hariseldon02 Where I volunteer, we go interior to knock down the fire, even if there’s no civilians inside. An aggressive interior attack is necessary to save the most amount of the structure. The only time that’s outweighed is when the structure is a total loss or the threat of collapse is imminent. Obviously, every department is different but that’s how we do it
@@aac2500 my district will go interior to prevent it from becoming fully involved but there is definitely an understanding that if you are in a situation beyond saving you get out. Don’t want an incident within an incident.
@@aac2500 there is no justification on earth to why in hell would you risk your life and of others to put out a structure in risk of collapsing from the inside when there is 0 reward from it beyond not even structural integrity but "salvage" of the structure in a material sense
@@hariseldon02 as a former firefighter of a german company i can follow on that, if our officers or whoever is in charge says there is no people by natural consequence there is no need to go inside, plus our gear has more heat resistance than american gear despite Americans having a tendency to unnecessarily enter buildings
As a volunteer firefighter I cried watching this story. Many people will never know the anxiety you feel in full bunker gear the moments before you step into a fully engulfed structure fire. Your thoughts are so tuned into getting your job done and getting everyone out alive. We had a close call in 2008 but by the grace of God we haven't lost a brother or sister from our department in the 18 years I've been a part of it. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose 7.
dgrn 101, I was in the navy and the navy would send us to shipboard firefighting and aircraft firefighting school about every 2 years. I was assigned to my first ship in Oct 1981 and every night in port the duty section would have some kind of drill unannounced. Fire and flooding were the most common. At sea it included GQ, fire, damage control, man overboard. I had the duty one day and was walking down a passageway toward my berthing compartment. Then out of the blue it was announced or the 1MC " FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!! FIRE IN COMPARTMENT ____________! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!" Yep, lucky me had to put on the OBA, be #1 hose man and enter the compartment first. Took about 10 minutes but we did get it put out with minimum damage to the ship. I was given a medical discharge for service connected injuries in 1989 and was asleep in bed one night in about 1993. Next thing I know my wife screaming woke me up, I jumped in my pants rounded the bed to where she was and saw the living room was on fire. Our daughter ( about 5 or 6 at the time) was about 10 feet away from it so ran into her room and she was sitting on her bed crying. I told her to hang on to me and put her face in my under arm, she did and we ran through the fire to get her out. I banged on the bedroom window of the house next door and they let her in. I went back through the living room looking for wife. Found her in the bath room by our bedroom curled up by the toilet crying. Told her we cannot stay here and we have to go through the living room. Told her no matter what happens do not stop. So I'm behind her guiding her through the kitchen and and at the doorway from kitchen to living room she put her hands up the door frame and refused to go. It might sound like I was being rough. But I grabbed the back of her neck and her ass, pulled her away from the door frame and ran her through the living room holding her like that. After the fire was out and every thing was cold I went in to look at the damage. There if the tile of the kitchen at that door frame was her toe prints melted into the tile. Since then I have been through 3 different house fires. The one above was the worst and no way I could have put it out. The other 2 I did put out, one while in my boxers LOL. " Your thoughts are so tuned into getting your job done". As for me it was the training in the navy that made the difference in all three as I did not think what had to be done as it was reaction from navy training.
I knew one of the families who lost their father to this fire. They were part of my homeschooling group. They were young and never fully understood what had happened. When i got into emergency medicine in high-school one of the guys who trained me was one of the firefighters who went in after to find the bodies. Really messed with his head and nearly cost him his marriage. It was tragedy that affected everyone and you still see Charleston 9 stickers everywhere.
@@allisonkrueger8330 You don't know their situation. It's not feasible to remain in a relationship with someone who can't contribute but also refuses to seek or obtain some form of help or support. Bills still need paid, the kids still have birthdays, the dog still needs the vet.
very good narration. I am a fire fighter from Mumbai Fire Brigade, india. I salute all 9 fire fighters who gave their life in the line of duty... may their soul rest in peace...
If you want another large fire to take a look at, perhaps the 2014 fire at the Toce Brothers warehouse in Torrington Ct. might be in order. It was big enough to draw in support from outside of the _county_ . 20,000 square foot warehouse, over 150 firefighters on scene, right in the middle of a residential area and not a single injury, they even protected all the exposures. It was a textbook example of how to deal with such a fire. Maybe that doesn't fit in with the darker side of things, but I feel that the better side of these should be explored from time to time. Maybe this works for a time when you don't have a lot of time to collate the details of a particular story. I live around a half mile from where this happened, when it happened. People here were starting to get rather scared that it would start swallowing up the houses near it an turn into a major catastrophe. But in the end, it turned into the example I use whenever I hear people talk about lowering funding for firefighters or closing volunteer departments down.
Those firemen were at that burning store and eventually all nine firefighters are dead. Therefore, nothing else can be done to restore them back to life. It is the living who are entitled to respect, more respect than their dead.
I’ve been hoping someone would cover this. My stepsisters mom worked at this store at the time of the fire. Luckily her mom had gotten off of work before the fire started, but I remember my stepsisters terror before she was able to reach her mom. An absolute tragedy that I still remember vividly every time I pass the memorial.
@@beenhog6922 This may come as a shock to you stupid kids, but sometimes, people have experiences that don't involve sitting on their asses in front of their computers or TVs.
And my father's brothers sisters brother in laws sister in law proposed to me at this store as well as yours. It was a beautiful place until this tragic event
This is what infuriates me about Dollar General - that entire store is a fire hazard for both customers and employees. Never in my life have I seen an open store block so many aisles.
It's everywhere nowadays, blocking aisles and limiting exits is how they prevent shoplifting. Companies would rather you die in a fire than they lose a single dollar of their billions of dollars of profit.
This incident rocked the community to its core. Losing nine firefighters in one night...just, wow. Going on sixteen years later I still am in awe. I took my little one (four years old at the time) to that station in West Ashley a few days after the fire, to bring some cookies and sandwiches to the guys (they much appreciated the gesture), and got to meet the lone surviving captain from that night. I still get a little emotional thinking about our conversation. I and several colleagues attended the massive memorial service at the North Charleston Coliseum. In addition to Joe Riley, Mark Sanford and Michael Chertoff spoke to the attendees. A firefighter from North Carolina sang "Angels Among Us," and the Pipes & Drums Society of New York escorted the family members from the floor at the conclusion. Captain Louis Mulkey was an assistant coach for the Summerville High School basketball and football teams, and several of his players showed up in their Green and Gold attire to support the family. Most of the Charleston Nine had individual memorial services. One of the Nine's older brothers went to high school with me, so I felt the need to be in attendance. The line of fire and police vehicles (not to mention civilian cars) was incredible, and it meant a lot to the family that those who saw the caravan stopped along the route to pay their respects. There were so many of us that the after the cemetery met its limit of vehicles it could accommodate, the Highway Patrol also ran out of space on the shoulder of the road and had us park in a lane of traffic. I really am glad that you highlighted how much the City and the (now former) business dropped the ball in this incident. Absolutely none of this was necessary, period. Just to clarify, Rusty Thomas submitted his retirement letter to the Mayor the day before the NIOSH report was released, because it assessed quite a bit of the blame on him. The store's shortcomings were not his fault, but the direction of the Department absolutely was. It really ticked a lot of people off before he left the way he retaliated against the firefighters who spoke up about the direction of the Department during the investigation. As I understand, not a whole lot of people were sad to see him go.
I don't generally tear up when watching most videos on RUclips. This one really got to me. I'm not a firefighter nor are there in my family. But the few times I have been rushed to the hospital I've been treated with such respect and dignity by the men and women who protect us from harm. Thank you for this moving tribute and sad story about fallen heroes.
This incident is still remembered by the state. It ended up changing a lot of old practices in the fire service. Enforcing codes, pump testing, water supply, the size of hoses taken into a fire.
A lot of things changed in Charleston over the next couple of years because their tactics were 20 years out dated. As for the fire service nation wide. 5 inch supply lines, 2.5 inch smoothbore with 1.25 tips flowing 326gpm and RIT teams were standard practice for industrial fires.
@@fire1937 I was surprised to learn how out of date they were. You would have thought for a large historical city, they would have been better equipped. I didn’t get here till 2017 so I’m sure the economics of the area were vastly different.
Why wouldn't you suppport police? Sure, some are corrupt, same as firefighters. Some firefighters are known to cause fires. That doesn't mean we will stop supporting them. They are all there to ensure our safety.
I've been in first response for 3 years and a firefighter for a year so far. I couldn't imagine hearing my friends and classmates calling mayday or being stuck somewhere fully involved in a fire with no way for me to save them. RIP to all 9 for the firemen lost that day. Safe travels into the beyond.
100% Agreed. - My dad was a lifelong volunteer & career FF. My boyfriend's a career FF. I'm a volunteer FF myself. I'm also a lifelong South Carolina resident, so this tragedy has stayed with me since it happened. - We always can look back and see problems with tragedies. However, it's sickening when people assume they were being careless or they weren't trained properly. We're all adults who can acknowledge many errors and issues with this fire. However, the growth is in taking that knowledge and making changes to strategies or upgrades in equipment. I see so many people make comments blaming these 9 men for what happened or putting so much hate on the leadership. People HAVE to realize and accept that certain tactics or protocols weren't around in 2007. They did what they could with what they knew at the time. There's a reason this fire is STILL a major study point in fire classes and certifications in South Carolina, and beyond.
One of the most dangerous places for a fire to really go crazy are furniture stores because of the massive amount of flammable materials, watching this i think i can say for everyone that watches this that our thoughts go out to the families and friends of these brave people. The fire chief will relive this day for the rest of his life
@@sicooper4230 it's actually the foam in the sofas creating Cyanide gas in the toxic smoke plumes.I know,I make the stuff and the chemicals used are very toxic and carcinogenic.Look up chemical TDI and Methlyenechlrode
I live in Charleston and I remember this happening. I would also point out, and you can see this in some of the photos, that there is a GAS STATION right next door to the Super Sofa which was also a big concern when they were firefighting. The warehouse property extends into the neighborhood behind it so I remember that being a big concern that if the fire got out of control it would start traveling from house to house. To this day, that gapping hole of a park sits there. Got to say a prayer whenever you pass it.
If I remember right from some pictures afterward, the fire actually partially melted the siding on at least one house in that neighborhood just behind the store.
Pray every day to your Creator, because He has your life in His hand, and your best interest in His heart. We never know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Let this life lesson be your motive every day. Life is just unpredictable.
My Creator is your Creator, too. You will find out by experience that it takes a real [sweet and a Gracious Great] God loves the right things to happen. I will pray for you. Until then, thank you for typing to me.
Sounds like a case where the plan needed to focus on rescue and containment rather than extinguishing. Don't gas stations have safety plans for if there is a fire?
I know it's their job and they know the risks, but I still can't imagine waking up that day, going to work, and it ending with laying in a burning building waiting to die while you're making your last transmission. They knew they were going to die in there when they realized they were trapped. I hope they rest in peace.
Recently got into fire sprinkler system design and I've been told multiple times how it's a solid career and saves lives. I knew fires could get bad without them but wow, this place was a disaster waiting to happen.
This fire has similarities to the tragic fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in May of 1977. Like the Sofa Super Store building code violations were abundant, there were no building permits for some of the construction, no sprinkler system, no fire alarm in place, and not enough exits for emergencies. Then there was the Station Night Club fire in 2003, no sprinkler system had been installed and 100 people died because pyrotechnics were set off on the stage igniting the flammable foam insulation on the walls which spread rapidly. It’s sad that positive change often comes with the loss of life. Complacency is the real enemy…some still gamble with peoples lives by not providing enough preventative action to prevent tragic fires.
I was surprised and shocked to learn that Charleston Fire Dept had NO fire marshal (inspection) service before that fire! Charleston is a very old city crowded onto a narrow peninsula with the threat of hurricanes and earthquakes ever present. It is the Deep South. Maybe that explains why the zoning rules only require sidewalks on ONE side of residential streets!
I'm reminded of this fire Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Fruitvale in Oakland California. The warehouse was converted to artists lofts and off-grid apartments. One of the key things I remember was that they said that the upper level apartments the only stairwell in and out was built out of wood pallets. The people never stood a chance.
Stacked from floor to ceiling. Along with highly combustible cleaning solutions. And a maze (mess?) of furniture on the showroom floor. And additions to the building did not go through the permitting process and never would have been approved as designed.
@@couch9416 That was the culture of CFD under that Chief's leadership. They prided themselves on being aggressive, hard chargers. Their firefighters never understood why other departments didn't follow the CFD lead. Yeah, they found out the hard way...
Wow, I'm an Australian Infantry Veteran and this story literally bought tears to my eyes!! I can't imagine a worse way to die. I'm so happy that they were honoured and remembered in the way they have been!! They deserve it for sure!! The most important thing being they are trying to make sure this kind of tragedy can never happen again!!
You were a PBI? From a Cold North Commonwealth Country Citizen who would gladly serve but cant, I hold back the urge to salute, as that would be improper for me, as I am not in uniform. Side question: Is your "Unofficial" National Anthem "Land Down Under" by Men At Work?
man. _man._ this is why we have regulations and rules and laws about fire safety. firefighters are just - just like with EMTs, firefighters are good people. These men didn't need to die.
Firefighting is something I could never do in a million years. Not physically, mentally nor emotionally. These men and women have always had my huge respect and admiration. They are my heroes and I never miss a chance to tell them because why shouldn't we tell them how we feel about them while they are still here and on duty
Currently a firefighter and going through academy. We had to watch a video about this fire for class, but this one is much more detailed and explains even the smaller details that overall contributed to the fire’s growth.
@@MrJoshcc600 For some codes yes, but no longer is that allowed for important fire safety regulations in publicly-accesible places in SC. Only properly listed historic buildings are exempt from this; everyone else must upgrade.
RIP to those guys, they did their best. what a memorial. Charleston has the finest, and bravest men watching over them. they should be proud of them and it shows.
My uncle was Mark Kelsey, one of the most genuine people you would ever had the pleasure of meeting. He took my fathers place that evening in Squad 9, my dad broke his ankle the day before by stepping in a pothole he didn’t somehow see. If he didn’t break his ankle, he would’ve been in that fire and I wouldn’t have had a father today. Edit note: my dad left when I was 17 to raise a new family in the Philippines 🤙
I'm from a family of firefighters, so this whole video was a huge gut punch. I can't imagine the horror of those firefighters in that inferno with no escape, knowing they are doomed. *shivers* I do remember this fire being referenced in an episode of FX's Rescue Me; Tommy Gavin says "Those nine firefighters who died in South Carolina? THOSE are true heroes to me."
Your first paragraph gave me chills. My dad was a lifelong career & volunteer firefighter. I'm a volunteer myself. When this fire happened, I remember thinking, "That could happen to my dad." It really was the 1st time I recognized why my mom would anxiously sit by the scanner listening for his voice whenever he was on a call. When the narrator mentioned the firefighters who couldn't find the hoseline, I cannot imagine what they felt. In rookie training, I was put in a controlled, safe situation simulating that type of incident, but my brain told my body I was about to die and I went into panic. I'll never forget my instructor kneeling down beside me when I finally "escaped" and saying "If you ever get stuck, you fight like hell to get to that hose or get out another way. Do what those men in Charleston tried to do. Not a one of them just gave up. We don't get to give up either."
Charleston native here, friend of the family to Rusty Thomas, and one of my closest friends' dad fought that fire that night, so this one cuts about as close as it gets. Buddy's dad still struggles with those events to this day. Devastating doesn't do the night justice. It's still a pretty fresh wound here. The Charleston 9 are legends and will always be remembered. So many unfortunate failings that night conspired against them. I appreciate your handling of the material. It was thorough, accurate, and most importantly respectful. Thank you.
With such an aggressive fire, I am surprised that the fire department did not pull their men back once the back rooms had been cleared of people. Were they unsure that they had gotten everyone out?
It was a sofa store, not an orphanage. They sold furniture, it wasn’t a hospital. Once they rescued people there was no sense in staying inside that building. They weren’t saving any sofas.
@@gkess7106 from what I have read the sofa store was next to a gas station so I can see why they wanted to go in and get the fire taken out. Cause they also weren’t too far from housing areas as well
No, its a cultural issue, American fire departments and this one in general pride themselves in being aggressive which results in deaths as seen in the video
@@itsmxtwist reason again for a defensive stance on the fire, the gas station is outside the store not inside, instead of literally wasting lives for no reason they could've been securing the perimeter around the gas station with "water shields" or simply from the lines engaged in defensive positions
Went on google maps and the land that was previously this unsafe store is now an open park and memorial and next to it is a really modern looking fire station w huge entrances
This episode affected me in a way none of the others have so far. Such a tragedy and my heart goes out to those who still grieve and are affected by the aftereffects of it.
As a former fire investigator nothing but respect sent out to these folks. I spent 17 years as a death investigator after my time with LFD (so I have been involved with some horrible scenes) and this made me tear up.
A distinction should be made between a Flash Over (the technical term for a phase within a fire event and refers to the abrupt transition of a fire (e.g. a room fire) from the initial phase to the full fire phase) and Roll Over or flue gas ignition (the sudden ignition and burning of pyrolysis gas). In the case shown in the video, I would assume flue gas ignition, because there was talk of thick, black smoke. This is an indication of imminent flue gas ignition when oxygen is added. Flue gas ignition usually precedes flashover. That is why the two are often confused.
@@angelachouinard4581 You're welcome. 25 years of volunteer firefighters make it possible. The physical/chemical process of pyrolysis is not known to everyone. It also releases flammable gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. And it is these gases that lead to flue gas ignition.
@@karstendoerr5378 is this why fire fighters sometimes spray the top of the room with what looks like a very wide mist/spray? as they way it looks on videos is its being done to cool air down below a flash point.
@@filanfyretrackerThis is to cool the flue gas layer and thus prevent ignition. At the same time, however, it takes the heat out of the room(heat accumulates under the ceiling because warm air rises). Nevertheless, you have to be careful with it, because one liter of water produces 1673 liters of water vapor.
It may be but there's also a good chance that smoke was from another source, as it was mentioned before that event as well. Remember that this was an extremely large furniture warehouse and showroom- the sudden ignition of hundreds of sofas, beds and wood furniture treated with stain, varnish and all the synthetic materials would have cause instant thick black smoke as well.
I myself applied to become a fire fighter for 2023. Videos like this always inspire me to be better and not make mistakes. God bless all lives that have been lost that day
This is the first video on the Charleston Super Sofa Fire I've watched in several years. I retired 11 years ago after a 34 year career in the fire service, retiring as a Battalion Chief. I've watched virtually every video done on this fire multiple times and every time I get so frustrated over the failure of the Charleston Fire Department administration. I can't believe that this tragedy was only 15 years ago! It does not appear that Charleston Fire Department had implemented any nationally recognized standard firefighting practices as far as their communication system (multiple fire channels), strategy and tactics, Rules of Engagement, lack of a rapid intervention team, no command and control, etc. It was 2007, not the 1950's! I listened to this audio over and over and still have not heard anything related to a RIC/RIT activation. They spent way too much time worrying about water pressure than a rescue attempt. Command staff was too involved "tactically" to focus on the big picture. Unfortunately, these failures led to the deaths of the firefighters.
Your comments are right on point. The investigation into this tragedy enumerated all the points you made and more. The failure of command and the administration of Charleston FD bordered on the criminal. Unfortunately, those not in the fire service or those who are only familiar with this fire through videos such as this are unaware of these failures. May these men Rest In Peace, may we never forget.
What do you think a RIC activation was going to do. Kill more firefighters. I'm glad your department was on the cutting edge as far as tactics and firefighter rescue. I don't get the point of your comment 15 years later. The CFD has made huge improvements. They have a few survivors that travel and explain the fire and it's devastating impact to other agencies. This wasn't the best coverage of this fire. There are more detailed videos out there.
@@tomevans5458 I agree with your comment. There were many breakdowns during this operation. A similar thing happened in Worcester MA. If your trying to explain to the public we have better techniques now commanding fires that's great. This loss of life is tragic but every single one of those firefighters went in fearlessly. That's what you say about the CFD. The rest is pointless in regards to looking back. They, like many have upgraded their policies, equipment and practices. I used to vent on tragedies like this. Then I realized no one is listening. The public wants to thank them and their families for their sacrifice. I'm good with that.
@@thereissomecoolstuff The thing I think about regarding the Worcester fire is that among those killed were Denis Leary's cousin and one of his high school classmates. And afterwards, he established the Leary Firefighters Foundation.
Everything I had read on this before watching this video was minimized to they were inside too long and then things got bad. The fact you had a raging inferno rip the door out of your hands on initial entry dispelled all of that. What were they even doing in there?
The politicians still get re-elected by promising to "cut red tape" and remove "regulations" by reactionaries who don't even know if the regulations are designed to save lives!
I was 9 when this happened and distinctly remember my mother crying to the news as images of the fire flashed through the screen. I remember driving past what was left of the store shortly thereafter. It was a hard day in Charleston, and even to this day, as a civilian, it has left it's mark in our community. I'm glad someone did a video on this! I had no idea how much people outside of Charleston responded, but it warms my heart to know that these heroes got the send off they deserved.
I remember this story. One of them was a youth basketball coach for a middle school team, who promised his team they would win a state championship in High School. That school, Summerville, would go on to do just that for him. One of the players, I believe, was AJ Green. Yes, now, Wide Receiver AJ Green. RIP to everyone.
reminds me of the Cold Storage fire in Worcester Ma in 1999. I believe that one claimed 5 or 6 Firemen under nearly the same circumstances. I have a wonderful man up the road from me who comes from a long line of Firefighters, it's a proud and honorable profession for sure.
Was going to9 say I immediately thought of that and hope it gets covered. There's a fascinating writeup on what happened and I can't for the life of me find it now though.
This fire led to Denis Leary creating the Leary Firefighter's Foundation; he knew two of the firefighters that died that day (one was his cousin, the other a close family friend). After the Charleston fire, the charity donated lots of equipment to the Charleston Fire Depaprtment.
@@guitarpick2002 Yup you are correct, they funded a training building which has been well used as well as countless donations to other departments around the state and country. Leary's cousin is Jerry Lucey who was also friends with my dad who is also a firefighter.
I remember that one. It also reminded me of the Pang Warehouse fire in January 1995, in which a fire set by an arsonist caused the deaths of 4 firefighters when a fire set in a basement caused a floor to give way, causing them to plunge into the basement.
Been in Charleston My whole life, every June 18 we have a minute of silence for the fallen as well as a bell ringing at the old site, our local news stations will read out the Names of the nine Firefighters. My mother Worked at the Senior Center at the time, one of the Seniors was the grandmother of Firefighter Melvin Champaign, he was only with the department 2 years.
I live in near that memorial in Charleston and every time I pass by it I get chills, it’s truly sad what happened and it definitely changed the city and the community as a whole
Super classy that firefighters from around the world descended upon Charleston to pay their respects to fellow firefights. Also was really cool to hear the 300+ fire trucks that came did a tribute past the fire stations the 9 were a part of.
@@djjinxman1 Being aware of these problems and going anyways makes you not very smart. But I assume these poor guys were not aware. Why would anyone enter a death trap knowingly? Again, very sad...
It's sad that it took 9 fire fighters to die until the fire departments in Charleston equipped their fire fighters properly. Charleston learned a very critical lesson and hopefully they are equipping their fire fighters properly these days.
Please stop using AI-interpolation on the videos and images in your content. It makes the blurry videos look worse and the images don't add anything to the content.
I saw this come up on my 'recommended' list and knew I couldn't watch it. Even after a full day of steeling my nerves to get ready there are still tears in my eyes. I'm not a firefighter and I'm at the other end of the State but I have friends who are firefighters and I saw first-hand how deeply it affected them. We Southerners have a tradition of not forgetting, and we will never forget the Charleston 9. We still have a long way to go in getting o0ur Firefighters what they need to better serve us with less risk to themselves in so doing, but at least their voices are now heard and governments are finally giving them some funding and assistance where they once had nearly none. Specific levels of training are now required of Fire Chiefs and of paid firefighters to ensure that some of the mistakes which happened here do not happen again. I sleep easier knowing my friends are now at less risk but I always know as they do that every call they respond to can very easily be their last one. I urge everyone to take some time to contact their Government representatives and make sure your own Firefighters are getting what they need. Be sure to tell them you're watching them and that you too won't forget when election day comes.
Walmart fires are terrifying. Only time we ever lose guys is in big fires like that. Super risky, you can get lost, we have a duty to go in and most of us would happily do so. It’s a huge risk though.
Same for the RNLI too, firefighters and lifeboat crews are heroes no matter what you think about them. It takes bravery and determination to step into a boat and put yourself out to sea, or get geared up to go into a burning building because there's people in there who need you to get in and save them. Everyone remembers the Kings Cross fire. Not so many remember Station Officer Townsley.
Perhaps if companies that break the rules were held accountable then maybe others would be less inclined to do the same. Firefighters are still heroes not just when they die.
When they said the firefighters smashed the windows to make escape routes for the firefighters inside.... im in complete shock that a fire chief allowed that. The worst thing you could do in any structure fire situation, that move I bet accounted for some of the deaths. Completely shocked
Really sad to lose so many lives when there were no lives at risk, just mattresses. Thank you for sharing. Great video. (I honestly strongly disliked/hated your last video due to the music selection and sound samples. This one here is a great improvement reminiscent of what you usually upload and I’m happy that you have an awesome channel going. Thank you)
Who was left inside?? The building is insured. Just let it burn down and keep the fire from spreading to other buildings. But oh, we're firefighters. Instead 9 people died for mattresses. Not heroic, just dumb.
Someone who lives in the area commented on here that this store was right next door to a gas station and it was a big concern. So definitely more to it then just furniture
@@ashgonza92 the risk was what was around the store, and not what was inside it like ashley said, there was a gas station right next to the store, and i believe there was also a bunch of residential buildings close behind the store
honestly i cant fault the chief giving orders to the firefighters, they didnt have much info to go on and if you ever hear a mayday, i think its almost impossible to not start panicking or at the very least try to do anything you can to try and save those firefighters.
When you see that fire retardent foam has been used on your funiture ignore that label. I carried out comprehensive tests on 12 seperate foams and although they do not drop burning plastic they are quite capable of producing lethal smoke and flames given enough heat.
I've never been clear on what "fire-retardant" really means- it's all over labels for kids clothes but like... if it's hot enough, it'll still melt and cause terrible burns, even if it doesn't *catch* fire, right?
@Rose Olivas Man made materials will melt and cause severe burns, yes. Clothing made of natural fibers are ideal, like cotton. We were taught this while being trained to work on live electrical lines, and are required to wear natural materials while performing our work for that reason.
It's hard to believe something this awful happened under modern Codes, but as you noted there were numerous Code violations and other factors. Fire sprinklers save lives.
This is so sad. They tried their best. Prayers to their families and the department. The picture of the South Charleston Fire Department 30 seconds in is of South Charleston, West Virginia.
Ironically, sofas are required by law to have fire retardant chemicals in them. It was a law that was pushed by the cigarette industry as a way to quell complaints about smoking related furniture fires. Also ironically, the stuff is thought to cause cancer. I don't remember, but I think they also found that it actually makes fires worse, too. Yet furniture fabric is still required to be treated with it in the United States.
It's extremely sad that a tragedy ALWAYS has to happen before regulations are taken seriously. The safety of everyone alive today was built on the bodies of the dead. Heartbreaking. Also it makes me angry that the city and state will drop millions of dollars on dumb b s and then underfund emergency responders. My city recently decided a couple years ago they were going to plant a bunch of trees along large amounts of the sidewalks to make things look prettier and then didn't increase the budgets of ANY emergency services. 2 years later literally 95% of all the trees they planted died. There's like one tree every mile now and they had to spend money to cut them down because they were a hazard to have all these dead trees. How can the government be so incompetent literally all of the time. Like how is that possible! They make the wrong decision 100% of the time you think it would be by pure chance 50% of the time it would turn out to be a good decision. Nope.
@@tmilesffl obviously I do because you didn't add anything to the discussion at all. The vast majority of All City councils are made up of Rich business owners and career politicians. That's it. Weird how in order to get elected at all you have to have a bunch of money to advertise and fund your own campaign. Almost like it's purposefully keeping the poor from winning elections or running at all.
With no human lives needing saving, no one should have set a foot inside. That is what makes this case so much more infuriating than most, 9 men died "protecting/saving" the assets of a most likely insured wealthy person or corporation. With no human life to save, a cheaply built box store building and a show room full of cheap yet still (I'm sure well insured) furniture, the decision to have more than 10 men entering the building in its condition as it was as they did so, and not retreating the moment the flash occurred, makes no sense. Regardless of all the issues identified by the 3 investigating agencies like the building's issues and code violations, how the fire MAY have appeared originally to be minor(?), there is just no way that so many men made the same incompetent/unprepared/dangerous/irresponsible/unfocused/confused/counterintuitive choice to proceed as they did, getting the resulting tragedy EVEN WITH the limitations they faced that WERE identified by investigators. A bad building, code violations and lazy bureaucrats just can't explain it. I can't imagine that we had two handsfull of cowboys wanting to take on the fire like a bucking bronco ignoring obvious signs of problems, or some other systemic issue with that group dynamic. Decisions made, the decision maker........I don't know who is missing something......maybe it's me, maybe it's you Mr. Dark, or maybe it was all 3 of the investigating agencies; but, the events unfolded in a manner that just ....stinks. SOMEONE (or group) did something wrong in a very big/bad way, money and/or power (greed/corruption/incompetence) was involved; yet, according to YOUR presentation, nothing of that nature was addressed, or at least not reported to be so by you, or maybe just not picked up by me. The protecting of the bad call made to proceed(and I say it was a bad call because lives were lost where no lives needed saving) has a more sinister role to play, I'm almost sure of it. It stinks, it just does. I hope another creator has covered this event so that I can figure out what is making that horrible smell. To be fair, I am going to give it a second watch to be sure I'm being fair to you first.
The new firehouse with the 9 windows looking over the memorial, is perhaps the best tribute to fallen firefighters that I have ever heard of.
I don’t drive down that way much anymore but I look forward to seeing it when it’s done.
It’s done! However there were reports of bullet holes in the windows facing Savannah Hwy
@@lowcountryadventure3082 Oh no! How could someone do that? I sincerely weep for humanity nowadays
Terrible! Kids need to go to college or flip burgers-instead of becoming smoke-eaters.
@@pegallen6983 well its charleston
Even 15 and a half years later after this incident, we are still using it as a case study for recruit firefighters to learn from. This one incident not only changed the culture of Charleston Fire Department, but the fire service as a whole. I been to the memorial park that’s there now, and last summer had the good fortune of meeting a mother of one of the captains that died that day.
It was my brother who first told me about this disaster when he went through training years back in Arkansas. Sister-in-Law is also a Firefighter in Missouri, and she said the same thing.
@@daaa3932 it was my dad (retired Battalion Chief and captain at the time) that told me and then we turned on the news
@Da Aa Was it Louis Mulkeys mother by chance???
@@collincarson2200 most likely, she's pretty active in the Charleston area public safety community
This was a case study I had to use in my Incident Safety Officer class. Worked CCEMS for 2 years. Very unfortunate.
I am part of a fire department here in South Carolina. I am over 70 miles from Charleston and to this day we all have Charleston 9 stickers on all of our helmets. They will not be forgotten and their bravery is carried on with us.
Thank you for your service!
Crazy respect sir I salute you all
That's so amazing and honorable
Thank you for for your courage, and bravery.
May god bless you and your family! A true Hero
My heart actually shattered when I heard the police chief taking blame. 13:52 can you imagine how heart shattering it would be to lose men you’ve worked with, likely became close friends with. Done every measure you could with the resources you had and to hear you were partially to blame for the loss you tried desperately to prevent? My heart seriously goes out to that man.
Thats what leadership is all about! 'The buck stops here' mentality typifies classic leadership. Unlike our politicians these days who always look to pin blame anywhere beyond themselves. The chief is a noble man.
It is much more honorable to look at what you could have done better than to run from it. By taking responsibility, policies were changed and the department was brought to better standards, helping prevent future occurrences like this. He understood that the important thing was to face it all, so that men could be saved in the future. He was a good leader. No one is ever immune from blame. We are all human, and though you do not aim to make costly mistakes, you understand that with such a dangerous job, your mistakes have huge consequences. When you take the job, you understand that you will have regrets, but you decide that you will be able to do more good by assuming your duty than by ignoring it. Although breaking open the windows caused flashover, I can’t say I would’ve known anything better to do in that situation. It was a very intense and dangerous fire, with few options available to fight it.
I feel the same, but that shows he's an honorable man. An example to all of us, everywhere in the world.
How many firefighters did the police arrest??
@@inconnu4961 Absolutely right! Many people think that leadership is just belting out orders, when there is a whole lot more to leadership than that. I honestly don't know if I could live with myself in a situation where I inadvertently added to the cause of someone else's death, but that was a risk I took the many times I was placed in charge of or took charge or command of a situation. Nobody is perfect and sometimes, there is no second chance. I wish there was some way to give some comfort to the Chief, this is not something one just "gets over it".
I find it interesting how out of all the public services, the fire department is one that’s most glossed over, but is one of the most honorable and noble of the batch. People going into a career that regularly has them brace themselves to enter something that every single human instinct says to run from. They deserve all the glory they get and more.
I have never seen someone gloss over the fire department
Im in new york and alot of firemen are the biggest pieces of shit. I respect the ones who do their job and takes pride in it. But alot of them over here are almost as bad as our police. Beating their wives . Being an overall terrible person
I don't think they're glossed over. In fact, unlike police officers who are controversial, firefighters are seen as absolute, pure heroes. No one hates them, no one talks badly of them, everyone is grateful for them. And they deserve it. They're incredibly popular. People will pay for their groceries when they go as a crew. People let them cut lines for fast food during their work day and businesses give them free food very often. I think they are well appreciated and know they are.
@@cynthiagonzalez1825 Better branding. And this is changing, at least in my area, with the invention of 24 hour shifts where they get paid to sleep and the comparatively huge raises they have gotten over the past 20 years compared to the average person. They work so few days any more that they all have full time 2nd jobs on top of making 100k per year plus from the city and the only way to get in is nepotism. They talk about 4 generations of firefighters like its a good thing. The resentment is growing.
@@davidfoster2629did you even stop to think how stressful their jobs are?
I always asked my dad who just recently retired from Charleston fire department as battalion chief, how could this have happened to these firefighters? My dad was stationed in station 11. He had this day off. The next day he tells me he remembered his station being half empty because half of his crew died. He told me he couldn’t sleep and cried thinking about the guys he worked with that passed away.
I feel so bad for what my father had to go through.Sadly he now has PTSD, and has now retired from CFD.He is doing better now though.
Sometimes I’ll never understand why things happen, it makes me sick to think about the feeling being one of those about to die or one of those watching. So sorry.
:(
This is why I love YT - I knew this would strike very close to home for some and I hope it was done with respect / care for you guys… thank you for sharing your stories, may your fathers find peace 🙏🏻
sure jan
My dad was a firefighter for 35 years. On one occasion, a red hot piece of burning wood fell in his boot and he suffered third degree burns from it. He suffered immensely and required skin grafts. A very small price to pay compared to those 9 heroes. I cannot imagine what they felt when their coats started melting and they slowly burned to death. The worst way to go in my opinion. RIP to the 9 fallen heroes.
How did it fall into his boot? Turnout pants cover the tops of the boots
Please thank him for me.
@@SimonTekConley Lmao are you retarded? This person is probably in their 30s-40s and father 70+ years old. There were no turnout pants when he would've been in you dumbfuck 😂 My grandfather (71) had a 3 quarter jacket and roll up boots and a fiberglass helmet 💀
my ex was a firefighter.... he was called out to a structural fire and leaned over the stove for support holding the hose n didnt realise his turnouts had a tiny hole in them that water had gotten into.... he got steam burns from it.... he was so embarassed when the headlines read something like 'firefighter burned on the buttocks sitting on a stove' lol xxx
@Matthew Conley Before bunker pants we had rubber boots that once on your foot you could pull them up to your thigh.
Mad respect to the firefighters who risked their lives to fight such a monstrous fire.
RIP to the nine brave souls who perished in this preventable disaster.
Only need the first 9 words in the first sentence imo. Mad respect for any firefighter who goes on a call, regardless if it is trivial or the fire of all fires. I don't care what job they do either. Every last firefighter is a damned hero in my book.
@@whyjnot420
Are you a RUclips comment editor, or something?
Calm your audacity, kiddo.
@@sendthis9480 Staright up. F people like you.
I make a commennt IN SUPPORT OF EMNERGANCY SERVICES. But uittter scum l l;ike you try and make people question whayt I said.
I hope your family has the worst year in alll of its existence. Because people like you are even less than scum.
@@whyjnot420
Woah!
WTF is wrong with you?
Did you seriously just wish “I hope your family has the worst year in all of its existence”???!!?!!
What an emotional little drama queen.
What are you….8? 9 years old?
Control your feelings…little girl.
IF you actually cared about commenting “IN SUPPORT OF EMERGANCY SERVICES”…you would do so withOUT edited someone else’s comments.
You literally said:
“What you care about isn’t important….imo…here’s what you should care about”
Control your sanctimonious audacity…emotional little child.
Nobody is handing out participation awards for slamming others.
Pathetic little kid.
There is no need to ever enter into a dangerous situation nor are there any demands placed upon them to do so. If they enter such a building it’s foolishness on their part not heroics. No building is worth dying for plain and simple. The reality is Firefighting is actually a very safe job with a low fatality rate compared to many other jobs if done sensibly.
My father, who is pictured with me spent 32 1/2 years as a firefighter. Every time he returned from duty, I was grateful. I am so sorry for the families that lost their loved ones.
Very brave father you have
My boyfriend is a firefighter and I’m always terrified that something like this could happen to him. He doesn’t tell me that he went on a fire until after he gets back from it. Then I start thinking about what I was doing at the same time that he was risking his life. Thinking about how he could’ve died while I was doing something completely unaware is absolutely terrifying.
@@smkslpsd do you know this girl personally or something? maybe ur projecting who knows!
@@basintional Aw man. I missed the notification. What’d they say?
Salute to your BF 🫡
Being the close family, especially spouse, to “first responders” is very difficult, for a plethora of reasons.
It seems like you have special feelings for this young man. If you consider a life with him, please consider everything you will have to endure. It’s much easier to acknowledge a mismatch, for whatever reason, as early as possible.
Pretty much, firefighting is only as dangerous as the firefighters and their LEADERS make it. Like this fire. Most on the job LODDs are from stupidity and irresponsibility, not unforeseen accidents.
Note, 911 calls go out to any available tower regardless of carrier. If you need them try calling even if it says you have no bars.
911 calls will also go through on phones that aren't connected to a carrier
@@monsterglacier was going to say this. Note this also applies to any land line phone still getting a dialtone, 911 calls must be connected.
@@monsterglacier Carriers are *required* to pick up 911 calls, from any cellphones even if they're from a different carrier
@@monsterglacier Any working cellphone with a SIM card can be used to call 911 by Federal regulations.
Indeed. They are even required to use govt and military networks that normally we don’t get any access to.
Crap, that made me cry. That really sucks. It sucks that those men had to die just for things to get updated. It just makes it worse and proves that the saying "Policies are made with blood." Isn't just false but morbidly accurate.
I agree! I hate that we have to have tragedies before we take action to better the situation. It’s truly sad and my heart go out to the family’s of these brave firefighters.
Welcome to the real world, it goes with everything, from stop signs to traffic light... a lot of towns and counties won't put them in till there is multiple accidents or Loss of life. We are constantly fighting in the fire service with politics to make things safe but they never want to listen till something like this happens and then they act surprised and upset, but really i think they just want to get more TV time to make themself look better cause they really don't care that tragedies happen like this.
@@SlyShadowFox when I was younger, there was one road near my block which has two roads crossing the main one, there are no intersection lights there so there were a lot of crashes there mainly minor ones but a couple where people had to be ambulanced to the hospital... Firefighters were always the first to arrive since the local firestation was practically right there... still no lights at the spot but we're lucky and people seem to have gotten somewhat more "intelligent" with their driving so it's more rare for a crash to happen... would still prefer that there were lights there so the chance would be even smaller, not zero but better than current percentage chance of a crash happening
@@zachsmith1676 we have an intersection like that near us. They finally improved it and put in traffic lights. One of the streets that connects to it goes through our quiet neighborhood, has two parks/playgrounds along it, and we have a mix of young families with kids and older people who can’t move as fast as they used to. People cut through the neighborhood, usually speeding. We complain to the county and beg for traffic calming, but they say it’s not bad enough. I finally said to the others in our neighborhood group that I don’t think they’re going to do anything until someone gets hit by a car, and then they’ll act like they didn’t know it was a problem.
I’m seriously considering using a day off from work to go to their office and tell them exactly that in person.
goes with any company in any industry. the almighty $$ counts first. very few are proactive and sadly, many are reactive. yes, it take some sort of loss for a company to make changes. it truly sucks when a suggested change is ignored and comes true later. for those involved. being able to say ' i told you so' brings no peace
Such a tragic story. Textbook case of why we have building and safety codes. Hearing those locator beacons must have been haunting.
I couldn’t even imagine hearing those alarms going off and not being able to go after them . I was at a fire one night when a mayday call came in , I was part of the RIT team . We were positioned at the front door . The mayday came in that 3 FF’s fell threw the first floor to the basement and couldn’t be reached by radio . The chief held us up until he could figure out exactly where they went through just so we didn’t go through the same hole . That feeling I’ll never forget . Knowing they needed us and we couldn’t go right after them . My team was ready regardless of what was happening . While we waited we started cutting through the exterior walls making egress points . Make a long story short , we got all 3 guys out and there still firefighters today
having them and enforcing them are 2 different things. this case is an example of having good codes, but no enforcement. also wrong are builders who build against code, they should be held accountable in cases like this
Great example of the saying that regulations are written in blood.
@@chosenone1004 Thank you for your service and for saving the others ♥
@@RedRoseSeptember22
Thank you sooo much ! I truly appreciate it . I’ll continue to be a firefighter until our higher power says that’s enough .
I worked for a place that was storing merchandise in a hallway. One day I said to a manager "Why don't we put shelves here to make it easier to organize it all?" The reply FROM THE MANAGER was "Well we're not really allowed ANYTHING here but we take care of the fire marshal so he doesn't say anything about it."
I was disgusted by the level of corruption!
So many people looking for ways to die in a fire. But it's the fire marshal who is just plain gross. He's responsible for the firefighters who will die in that maze trying to save your former manager.
What did they say when you reported it?
@@othername1000 Yeah let me call the fire marshal to report the fire marshal and get fired from my job. All in the word of one manager who would completely deny it.
I once saw a fire inspector at a parking lot were cars were clearly parked in the fire zone. I commented that they never seem to get tickets for that and he said "yeah cuz they do it all the time." and walked away...
@@Moonshooter1 I highly doubt that this former manager would put himself in any actual danger. I'm sure that his actual working space is all up to standard and implementing the absolute latest safety protocols. They're only fine with putting lives of their employees in danger, never their own.
In my area you can't even get away with putting in a 4 x 6 deck without a permit without the city finding out. The fact that this store was able to add massive areas to their structure without permits tells you how the city either didn't have the personnel to stay on top of these things or they didn't care.
I'm a retired firefighter and former deputy fire marshal. I was visiting family in Charleston two weeks after the fire and stayed in a motel two blocks from Sofa Super Store. Out for a morning walk, I passed by the site and of course looked at it with a professional eye. At that time there was still a lot of confusion over what exactly happened, fingers were pointed, policies and procedures were being questioned, and there was lots of anger. I visited again after the site was made into a memorial park, and found it to be very emotional. What struck me, looking at the locations where each man died, was that every one died alone. Having followed the story and knowing the changes in the department, code enforcement, operational procedures, and adherence to national standards, it helps to know their deaths contributed to lives being saved through the lessons learned from this fire. Rest well, my brothers.
But it still takes you far too long to actually get water onto a fire 🤦🏻♂️
In UK it’s on within 30 seconds of arrival
We don’t look for a hydrant first !!
You don't have to Learn the right way by doing the obvious wrong way first.
@AndyC2_ You gotta find the hydrants man. It's pretty risky to have a big tall truck full of water careening around tight turns and bends. We lost a firefighter or two here in WV a couple years back because their tanker flipped over taking a turn due to water shifting l.
@@phantomaviator1318 If the water level in the tanks is full, it doesn’t shift or move as it has nowhere to go. The danger is if you have 1/2 tank then it can move about. Keep it full and there’s not an issue
The UK and the US are difficult to compare- we have huge country and there are huge differences region to region in population. As far as I knew, New York and Tokyo were considered the best fire departments in the world.
As a firefighter myself, it was hard to hear everything that went wrong. For those who don’t know, many fire departments in the USA pride themselves on being aggressive, interior-attacking departments. Much of the loss of life could’ve been prevented with an exterior attack
I was gonna ask that. Currently watching a documentary about German firefighters and as soon as it is clear all civilians are out, they stay outside and water the neighboring places so the fire cannot spread. Though over ten years have passed since this case and the amount of knowledge then and now differs.
@@hariseldon02 Where I volunteer, we go interior to knock down the fire, even if there’s no civilians inside. An aggressive interior attack is necessary to save the most amount of the structure. The only time that’s outweighed is when the structure is a total loss or the threat of collapse is imminent. Obviously, every department is different but that’s how we do it
@@aac2500 my district will go interior to prevent it from becoming fully involved but there is definitely an understanding that if you are in a situation beyond saving you get out. Don’t want an incident within an incident.
@@aac2500 there is no justification on earth to why in hell would you risk your life and of others to put out a structure in risk of collapsing from the inside when there is 0 reward from it beyond not even structural integrity but "salvage" of the structure in a material sense
@@hariseldon02 as a former firefighter of a german company i can follow on that, if our officers or whoever is in charge says there is no people by natural consequence there is no need to go inside, plus our gear has more heat resistance than american gear despite Americans having a tendency to unnecessarily enter buildings
As a volunteer firefighter I cried watching this story. Many people will never know the anxiety you feel in full bunker gear the moments before you step into a fully engulfed structure fire. Your thoughts are so tuned into getting your job done and getting everyone out alive. We had a close call in 2008 but by the grace of God we haven't lost a brother or sister from our department in the 18 years I've been a part of it. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose 7.
I'm from a family of firefighter... Bawling like baby💔 thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service. You are more valuable to our society than cops and I wish more people recognized that.
Doubt you're walking into a building that's fun evolved but ok. TYFYS
dgrn 101, I was in the navy and the navy would send us to shipboard firefighting and aircraft firefighting school about every 2 years. I was assigned to my first ship in Oct 1981 and every night in port the duty section would have some kind of drill unannounced. Fire and flooding were the most common. At sea it included GQ, fire, damage control, man overboard. I had the duty one day and was walking down a passageway toward my berthing compartment.
Then out of the blue it was announced or the 1MC " FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!! FIRE IN COMPARTMENT ____________! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!"
Yep, lucky me had to put on the OBA, be #1 hose man and enter the compartment first. Took about 10 minutes but we did get it put out with minimum damage to the ship.
I was given a medical discharge for service connected injuries in 1989 and was asleep in bed one night in about 1993. Next thing I know my wife screaming woke me up, I jumped in my pants rounded the bed to where she was and saw the living room was on fire. Our daughter ( about 5 or 6 at the time) was about 10 feet away from it so ran into her room and she was sitting on her bed crying. I told her to hang on to me and put her face in my under arm, she did and we ran through the fire to get her out. I banged on the bedroom window of the house next door and they let her in.
I went back through the living room looking for wife. Found her in the bath room by our bedroom curled up by the toilet crying. Told her we cannot stay here and we have to go through the living room. Told her no matter what happens do not stop. So I'm behind her guiding her through the kitchen and and at the doorway from kitchen to living room she put her hands up the door frame and refused to go.
It might sound like I was being rough. But I grabbed the back of her neck and her ass, pulled her away from the door frame and ran her through the living room holding her like that. After the fire was out and every thing was cold I went in to look at the damage. There if the tile of the kitchen at that door frame was her toe prints melted into the tile.
Since then I have been through 3 different house fires. The one above was the worst and no way I could have put it out. The other 2 I did put out, one while in my boxers LOL. " Your thoughts are so tuned into getting your job done". As for me it was the training in the navy that made the difference in all three as I did not think what had to be done as it was reaction from navy training.
Glad to hear you're unit hasn't lost anyone and hopefully that will remain so. But they lost 9 people, not 7. Keep up the good work.
I knew one of the families who lost their father to this fire. They were part of my homeschooling group. They were young and never fully understood what had happened. When i got into emergency medicine in high-school one of the guys who trained me was one of the firefighters who went in after to find the bodies. Really messed with his head and nearly cost him his marriage. It was tragedy that affected everyone and you still see Charleston 9 stickers everywhere.
Shame on his spouse for not giving him the support he needed and considering divorce, he went through something horrible
@@allisonkrueger8330 You don't know their situation. It's not feasible to remain in a relationship with someone who can't contribute but also refuses to seek or obtain some form of help or support. Bills still need paid, the kids still have birthdays, the dog still needs the vet.
very good narration. I am a fire fighter from Mumbai Fire Brigade, india. I salute all 9 fire fighters who gave their life in the line of duty...
may their soul rest in peace...
Thank you for what you do sir.
If you want another large fire to take a look at, perhaps the 2014 fire at the Toce Brothers warehouse in Torrington Ct. might be in order. It was big enough to draw in support from outside of the _county_ . 20,000 square foot warehouse, over 150 firefighters on scene, right in the middle of a residential area and not a single injury, they even protected all the exposures. It was a textbook example of how to deal with such a fire.
Maybe that doesn't fit in with the darker side of things, but I feel that the better side of these should be explored from time to time.
Maybe this works for a time when you don't have a lot of time to collate the details of a particular story.
I live around a half mile from where this happened, when it happened. People here were starting to get rather scared that it would start swallowing up the houses near it an turn into a major catastrophe. But in the end, it turned into the example I use whenever I hear people talk about lowering funding for firefighters or closing volunteer departments down.
Or check out the documentary about the Boyd Street Fire. It’s fantastic.
Respect to those 9 firefighters who risked their lives to put the huge fire.
RIP to the 9 brave Firefighters.
Huge companies get aeay with literal murder on a consistent basis. Fire safety is an afterthought in america
Completely avoidable sadly, may their families find solace
Those firemen were at that burning store and eventually all nine firefighters are dead. Therefore, nothing else can be done to restore them back to life. It is the living who are entitled to respect, more respect than their dead.
I’ve been hoping someone would cover this. My stepsisters mom worked at this store at the time of the fire. Luckily her mom had gotten off of work before the fire started, but I remember my stepsisters terror before she was able to reach her mom. An absolute tragedy that I still remember vividly every time I pass the memorial.
Yeah my brothers uncles 2nd cousin was a force recon sniper firefighter who fought this fire with his literal fists
Always that wannabe edgelord who thinks he's funny...
@@beenhog6922 This may come as a shock to you stupid kids, but sometimes, people have experiences that don't involve sitting on their asses in front of their computers or TVs.
And my father's brothers sisters brother in laws sister in law proposed to me at this store as well as yours. It was a beautiful place until this tragic event
@@MrJoshcc600 lol, I see what you did there. I would have just said stepmother myself.
This is what infuriates me about Dollar General - that entire store is a fire hazard for both customers and employees. Never in my life have I seen an open store block so many aisles.
It's everywhere nowadays, blocking aisles and limiting exits is how they prevent shoplifting. Companies would rather you die in a fire than they lose a single dollar of their billions of dollars of profit.
This incident rocked the community to its core. Losing nine firefighters in one night...just, wow. Going on sixteen years later I still am in awe. I took my little one (four years old at the time) to that station in West Ashley a few days after the fire, to bring some cookies and sandwiches to the guys (they much appreciated the gesture), and got to meet the lone surviving captain from that night. I still get a little emotional thinking about our conversation.
I and several colleagues attended the massive memorial service at the North Charleston Coliseum. In addition to Joe Riley, Mark Sanford and Michael Chertoff spoke to the attendees. A firefighter from North Carolina sang "Angels Among Us," and the Pipes & Drums Society of New York escorted the family members from the floor at the conclusion. Captain Louis Mulkey was an assistant coach for the Summerville High School basketball and football teams, and several of his players showed up in their Green and Gold attire to support the family.
Most of the Charleston Nine had individual memorial services. One of the Nine's older brothers went to high school with me, so I felt the need to be in attendance. The line of fire and police vehicles (not to mention civilian cars) was incredible, and it meant a lot to the family that those who saw the caravan stopped along the route to pay their respects. There were so many of us that the after the cemetery met its limit of vehicles it could accommodate, the Highway Patrol also ran out of space on the shoulder of the road and had us park in a lane of traffic.
I really am glad that you highlighted how much the City and the (now former) business dropped the ball in this incident. Absolutely none of this was necessary, period. Just to clarify, Rusty Thomas submitted his retirement letter to the Mayor the day before the NIOSH report was released, because it assessed quite a bit of the blame on him. The store's shortcomings were not his fault, but the direction of the Department absolutely was. It really ticked a lot of people off before he left the way he retaliated against the firefighters who spoke up about the direction of the Department during the investigation. As I understand, not a whole lot of people were sad to see him go.
i drive past the sight every day dropping my mom off at work in downtown charleston. always think of the 9 who died that day
I don't generally tear up when watching most videos on RUclips. This one really got to me. I'm not a firefighter nor are there in my family. But the few times I have been rushed to the hospital I've been treated with such respect and dignity by the men and women who protect us from harm. Thank you for this moving tribute and sad story about fallen heroes.
The best way you could thank them is demanding better conditions, pay, and gear for firefighters of your city or town
This incident is still remembered by the state. It ended up changing a lot of old practices in the fire service. Enforcing codes, pump testing, water supply, the size of hoses taken into a fire.
Reading smoke awareness came out of this! A lot of changes the Brothers did not die in vain! Rip
A lot of things changed in Charleston over the next couple of years because their tactics were 20 years out dated. As for the fire service nation wide. 5 inch supply lines, 2.5 inch smoothbore with 1.25 tips flowing 326gpm and RIT teams were standard practice for industrial fires.
It turned the worst dept into a better dept. Overnight they bought updated apparatus and updated ALL their gear and training.
Unfortunately that’s how it usually works. Something tragic has to happen to make the higher ups realize what should have been done.
@@fire1937 I was surprised to learn how out of date they were. You would have thought for a large historical city, they would have been better equipped. I didn’t get here till 2017 so I’m sure the economics of the area were vastly different.
People might be split on supporting the police but everyone supports firefighters.
They are true heros.
When you need police they are too. We work with them pretty well and need them to deal with the Karen's
Only criminals and democrats have issues w/ the police.
Why wouldn't you suppport police? Sure, some are corrupt, same as firefighters. Some firefighters are known to cause fires. That doesn't mean we will stop supporting them.
They are all there to ensure our safety.
Stoned Viking...spot on.
The Karens use the police to get POC killed. THEY work well together. 🤦♀️
I've been in first response for 3 years and a firefighter for a year so far. I couldn't imagine hearing my friends and classmates calling mayday or being stuck somewhere fully involved in a fire with no way for me to save them. RIP to all 9 for the firemen lost that day. Safe travels into the beyond.
The level of memorialisation these heroes recieved is heartwarming
As a firefighter myself I just want to say thank you for such a comprehensive and respectful video about this tragedy.
100% Agreed. - My dad was a lifelong volunteer & career FF. My boyfriend's a career FF. I'm a volunteer FF myself. I'm also a lifelong South Carolina resident, so this tragedy has stayed with me since it happened. - We always can look back and see problems with tragedies. However, it's sickening when people assume they were being careless or they weren't trained properly.
We're all adults who can acknowledge many errors and issues with this fire. However, the growth is in taking that knowledge and making changes to strategies or upgrades in equipment. I see so many people make comments blaming these 9 men for what happened or putting so much hate on the leadership. People HAVE to realize and accept that certain tactics or protocols weren't around in 2007. They did what they could with what they knew at the time. There's a reason this fire is STILL a major study point in fire classes and certifications in South Carolina, and beyond.
One of the most dangerous places for a fire to really go crazy are furniture stores because of the massive amount of flammable materials, watching this i think i can say for everyone that watches this that our thoughts go out to the families and friends of these brave people. The fire chief will relive this day for the rest of his life
Agree and it's the toxic fumes that kill so quick.Wool and silk emit cyanide gas.
@@sicooper4230 it's actually the foam in the sofas creating Cyanide gas in the toxic smoke plumes.I know,I make the stuff and the chemicals used are very toxic and carcinogenic.Look up chemical TDI and Methlyenechlrode
I thought furniture was not allowed to be made from flammable materials nowadays?
@@2760ade Fire-resistant wood is still wood. Burn it hot enough and that dining room table and chairs are just good firewood.
this event almost certainly lead to legislation for fire retardant furniture
I live in Charleston and I remember this happening. I would also point out, and you can see this in some of the photos, that there is a GAS STATION right next door to the Super Sofa which was also a big concern when they were firefighting. The warehouse property extends into the neighborhood behind it so I remember that being a big concern that if the fire got out of control it would start traveling from house to house. To this day, that gapping hole of a park sits there. Got to say a prayer whenever you pass it.
If I remember right from some pictures afterward, the fire actually partially melted the siding on at least one house in that neighborhood just behind the store.
Pray every day to your Creator, because He has your life in His hand, and your best interest in His heart. We never know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Let this life lesson be your motive every day. Life is just unpredictable.
@@captainkeyboard1007 stfu we talking about real life and real heroes not imaginary crap like your "creator"
My Creator is your Creator, too. You will find out by experience that it takes a real [sweet and a Gracious Great] God loves the right things to happen. I will pray for you. Until then, thank you for typing to me.
Sounds like a case where the plan needed to focus on rescue and containment rather than extinguishing. Don't gas stations have safety plans for if there is a fire?
I know it's their job and they know the risks, but I still can't imagine waking up that day, going to work, and it ending with laying in a burning building waiting to die while you're making your last transmission. They knew they were going to die in there when they realized they were trapped. I hope they rest in peace.
Recently got into fire sprinkler system design and I've been told multiple times how it's a solid career and saves lives.
I knew fires could get bad without them but wow, this place was a disaster waiting to happen.
This fire has similarities to the tragic fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in May of 1977. Like the Sofa Super Store building code violations were abundant, there were no building permits for some of the construction, no sprinkler system, no fire alarm in place, and not enough exits for emergencies. Then there was the Station Night Club fire in 2003, no sprinkler system had been installed and 100 people died because pyrotechnics were set off on the stage igniting the flammable foam insulation on the walls which spread rapidly. It’s sad that positive change often comes with the loss of life. Complacency is the real enemy…some still gamble with peoples lives by not providing enough preventative action to prevent tragic fires.
I was surprised and shocked to learn that Charleston Fire Dept had NO fire marshal (inspection) service before that fire! Charleston is a very old city crowded onto a narrow peninsula with the threat of hurricanes and earthquakes ever present. It is the Deep South. Maybe that explains why the zoning rules only require sidewalks on ONE side of residential streets!
Reminds me of the Brooklyn Waldbaum's fire too. I still remember the Daily News article showing how the building fell on the men who died.
You nailed it 👏. Complacency. "Well, that's how we do it." SMH.
I'm reminded of this fire Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Fruitvale in Oakland California. The warehouse was converted to artists lofts and off-grid apartments. One of the key things I remember was that they said that the upper level apartments the only stairwell in and out was built out of wood pallets. The people never stood a chance.
isnt that the nightclub where people were stacked up on each other all the way to the ceiling because everyone ran to the front entrance?
A warehouse full of sofas… without a sprinkler system?? Incredible.
Stacked from floor to ceiling. Along with highly combustible cleaning solutions. And a maze (mess?) of furniture on the showroom floor. And additions to the building did not go through the permitting process and never would have been approved as designed.
@@lindseysummers5351 and still they thought it was worth going inside trying to save... something as if the whole building isn't destroyed anyways
@@couch9416 That was the culture of CFD under that Chief's leadership. They prided themselves on being aggressive, hard chargers. Their firefighters never understood why other departments didn't follow the CFD lead. Yeah, they found out the hard way...
@@lindseysummers5351 that's sadly the truth, thanks for opening your eyes to it
I believe that practice is outrageous.
Wow, I'm an Australian Infantry Veteran and this story literally bought tears to my eyes!! I can't imagine a worse way to die. I'm so happy that they were honoured and remembered in the way they have been!! They deserve it for sure!! The most important thing being they are trying to make sure this kind of tragedy can never happen again!!
You were a PBI? From a Cold North Commonwealth Country Citizen who would gladly serve but cant, I hold back the urge to salute, as that would be improper for me, as I am not in uniform.
Side question: Is your "Unofficial" National Anthem "Land Down Under" by Men At Work?
"enveloped" like the mail? Lol, it's pronounced "n-vell-upped"
This one really made me cry, especially imagining that firefighter and possibly others having to radio in their last words like that. RIP 😢
man. _man._ this is why we have regulations and rules and laws about fire safety. firefighters are just - just like with EMTs, firefighters are good people. These men didn't need to die.
Yea hearing that a building like a furniture warehouse isn't equipped with sprinklers or some sort of fire suppression system is just really sad.
@@josephdouglas6482 Borderline criminal. All that textile and foam. Might as well be gasoline.
Yes, the South Carolina Bravest deserved not to die. This is what happens when we experience the things in life that we do not know about.
Firefighting is something I could never do in a million years. Not physically, mentally nor emotionally. These men and women have always had my huge respect and admiration. They are my heroes and I never miss a chance to tell them because why shouldn't we tell them how we feel about them while they are still here and on duty
Damn right!
When I was training for my firefighter level 1 we had a huge discussion and teaching lessons based around this incident
It shocks me that the chief fireman didn't understand back draft & how dangerous it is to open any doors .
Currently a firefighter and going through academy. We had to watch a video about this fire for class, but this one is much more detailed and explains even the smaller details that overall contributed to the fire’s growth.
As always, it takes a tragedy for things to happen. Deep, deep, respect for all these guys.
“Tombstone” legislation (or regulations/practices). Horrible.
This was heartbreaking. Firefighters and all those in the healthcare field, thank you so much for your bravery and commitment to saving lives.
RIP to the nine men lost no matter what the reason or the responsibility it is a serious tragedy
Older buildings were grandfathered in. They still are it's common sense
@@MrJoshcc600 For some codes yes, but no longer is that allowed for important fire safety regulations in publicly-accesible places in SC. Only properly listed historic buildings are exempt from this; everyone else must upgrade.
RIP to those guys, they did their best. what a memorial. Charleston has the finest, and bravest men watching over them. they should be proud of them and it shows.
My uncle was Mark Kelsey, one of the most genuine people you would ever had the pleasure of meeting. He took my fathers place that evening in Squad 9, my dad broke his ankle the day before by stepping in a pothole he didn’t somehow see. If he didn’t break his ankle, he would’ve been in that fire and I wouldn’t have had a father today.
Edit note: my dad left when I was 17 to raise a new family in the Philippines 🤙
Yikes I'm sorry that he left yall after all of that
I'm from a family of firefighters, so this whole video was a huge gut punch. I can't imagine the horror of those firefighters in that inferno with no escape, knowing they are doomed. *shivers*
I do remember this fire being referenced in an episode of FX's Rescue Me; Tommy Gavin says "Those nine firefighters who died in South Carolina? THOSE are true heroes to me."
Your first paragraph gave me chills. My dad was a lifelong career & volunteer firefighter. I'm a volunteer myself.
When this fire happened, I remember thinking, "That could happen to my dad." It really was the 1st time I recognized why my mom would anxiously sit by the scanner listening for his voice whenever he was on a call.
When the narrator mentioned the firefighters who couldn't find the hoseline, I cannot imagine what they felt. In rookie training, I was put in a controlled, safe situation simulating that type of incident, but my brain told my body I was about to die and I went into panic. I'll never forget my instructor kneeling down beside me when I finally "escaped" and saying "If you ever get stuck, you fight like hell to get to that hose or get out another way. Do what those men in Charleston tried to do. Not a one of them just gave up. We don't get to give up either."
No sprinkler system?! In 2007?! WOW!
Charleston native here, friend of the family to Rusty Thomas, and one of my closest friends' dad fought that fire that night, so this one cuts about as close as it gets. Buddy's dad still struggles with those events to this day.
Devastating doesn't do the night justice. It's still a pretty fresh wound here. The Charleston 9 are legends and will always be remembered. So many unfortunate failings that night conspired against them.
I appreciate your handling of the material. It was thorough, accurate, and most importantly respectful. Thank you.
This story is absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for covering it as well as you did. ❤️
Haven't cried in a while till watching this. God bless these men and their sacrifice, may they never be forgotten and live on in peace forever
With such an aggressive fire, I am surprised that the fire department did not pull their men back once the back rooms had been cleared of people. Were they unsure that they had gotten everyone out?
It was a sofa store, not an orphanage. They sold furniture, it wasn’t a hospital. Once they rescued people there was no sense in staying inside that building. They weren’t saving any sofas.
@@gkess7106 from what I have read the sofa store was next to a gas station so I can see why they wanted to go in and get the fire taken out. Cause they also weren’t too far from housing areas as well
That's what it sounds like-the chief officer on-scene didn't have a clear overview of the situation and scrambled to be in too many places at once.
No, its a cultural issue, American fire departments and this one in general pride themselves in being aggressive which results in deaths as seen in the video
@@itsmxtwist reason again for a defensive stance on the fire, the gas station is outside the store not inside, instead of literally wasting lives for no reason they could've been securing the perimeter around the gas station with "water shields" or simply from the lines engaged in defensive positions
They should have pulled out and just contained it and let it burn out.
RIP to the lost firefighters.
Protect the exposures, surround and drown. Bust out the master streams.
Went on google maps and the land that was previously this unsafe store is now an open park and memorial and next to it is a really modern looking fire station w huge entrances
Which was covered in the video ...
@@essaboselin5252 at the end yes but this I wondered abt halfway through so I posted this :)
Google Streetview also has a history function where you can see older footage. The earliest is from 2007 just after the fire. :(
I was a firefighter and retired in 1956. I don't miss it.
Thank you for your service.
This episode affected me in a way none of the others have so far. Such a tragedy and my heart goes out to those who still grieve and are affected by the aftereffects of it.
As a former fire investigator nothing but respect sent out to these folks. I spent 17 years as a death investigator after my time with LFD (so I have been involved with some horrible scenes) and this made me tear up.
A distinction should be made between a Flash Over (the technical term for a phase within a fire event and refers to the abrupt transition of a fire (e.g. a room fire) from the initial phase to the full fire phase) and Roll Over or flue gas ignition (the sudden ignition and burning of pyrolysis gas). In the case shown in the video, I would assume flue gas ignition, because there was talk of thick, black smoke. This is an indication of imminent flue gas ignition when oxygen is added. Flue gas ignition usually precedes flashover. That is why the two are often confused.
Good explanation of something a lot of people aren't familiar with. Thank you.
@@angelachouinard4581 You're welcome. 25 years of volunteer firefighters make it possible. The physical/chemical process of pyrolysis is not known to everyone. It also releases flammable gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. And it is these gases that lead to flue gas ignition.
@@karstendoerr5378 is this why fire fighters sometimes spray the top of the room with what looks like a very wide mist/spray? as they way it looks on videos is its being done to cool air down below a flash point.
@@filanfyretrackerThis is to cool the flue gas layer and thus prevent ignition. At the same time, however, it takes the heat out of the room(heat accumulates under the ceiling because warm air rises). Nevertheless, you have to be careful with it, because one liter of water produces 1673 liters of water vapor.
It may be but there's also a good chance that smoke was from another source, as it was mentioned before that event as well. Remember that this was an extremely large furniture warehouse and showroom- the sudden ignition of hundreds of sofas, beds and wood furniture treated with stain, varnish and all the synthetic materials would have cause instant thick black smoke as well.
I myself applied to become a fire fighter for 2023. Videos like this always inspire me to be better and not make mistakes. God bless all lives that have been lost that day
job for meatheaded losers who only care about themselves
God is almighty. So he's responsible for the fire in the first place...
@@maxnoobzilla1137 This hypothesis has been debunked for 2000 years
@@jh0347 lol!! GOT EMMMM! Hahaha
@@maxnoobzilla1137 stfu with that bullshit
Amazing. 2007 and they didn't even have a FUCKING SPRINKLER SYSTEM. Good job Carolina. Very proud 👏👏
This is the first video on the Charleston Super Sofa Fire I've watched in several years. I retired 11 years ago after a 34 year career in the fire service, retiring as a Battalion Chief. I've watched virtually every video done on this fire multiple times and every time I get so frustrated over the failure of the Charleston Fire Department administration. I can't believe that this tragedy was only 15 years ago! It does not appear that Charleston Fire Department had implemented any nationally recognized standard firefighting practices as far as their communication system (multiple fire channels), strategy and tactics, Rules of Engagement, lack of a rapid intervention team, no command and control, etc. It was 2007, not the 1950's! I listened to this audio over and over and still have not heard anything related to a RIC/RIT activation. They spent way too much time worrying about water pressure than a rescue attempt. Command staff was too involved "tactically" to focus on the big picture. Unfortunately, these failures led to the deaths of the firefighters.
Your comments are right on point. The investigation into this tragedy enumerated all the points you made and more. The failure of command and the administration of Charleston FD bordered on the criminal. Unfortunately, those not in the fire service or those who are only familiar with this fire through videos such as this are unaware of these failures. May these men Rest In Peace, may we never forget.
What do you think a RIC activation was going to do. Kill more firefighters. I'm glad your department was on the cutting edge as far as tactics and firefighter rescue. I don't get the point of your comment 15 years later. The CFD has made huge improvements. They have a few survivors that travel and explain the fire and it's devastating impact to other agencies. This wasn't the best coverage of this fire. There are more detailed videos out there.
@@tomevans5458 I agree with your comment. There were many breakdowns during this operation. A similar thing happened in Worcester MA. If your trying to explain to the public we have better techniques now commanding fires that's great. This loss of life is tragic but every single one of those firefighters went in fearlessly. That's what you say about the CFD. The rest is pointless in regards to looking back. They, like many have upgraded their policies, equipment and practices. I used to vent on tragedies like this. Then I realized no one is listening. The public wants to thank them and their families for their sacrifice. I'm good with that.
@@thereissomecoolstuff The thing I think about regarding the Worcester fire is that among those killed were Denis Leary's cousin and one of his high school classmates. And afterwards, he established the Leary Firefighters Foundation.
Everything I had read on this before watching this video was minimized to they were inside too long and then things got bad. The fact you had a raging inferno rip the door out of your hands on initial entry dispelled all of that. What were they even doing in there?
As a fireman, coming across these videos touches me. Thank you for covering this.
building full of flammable stuff with no fire sprinklers? nah not a problem. probably fine.
The politicians still get re-elected by promising to "cut red tape" and remove "regulations" by reactionaries who don't even know if the regulations are designed to save lives!
It may not have been required when the building was constructed.
I was 9 when this happened and distinctly remember my mother crying to the news as images of the fire flashed through the screen. I remember driving past what was left of the store shortly thereafter. It was a hard day in Charleston, and even to this day, as a civilian, it has left it's mark in our community. I'm glad someone did a video on this! I had no idea how much people outside of Charleston responded, but it warms my heart to know that these heroes got the send off they deserved.
I remember this story. One of them was a youth basketball coach for a middle school team, who promised his team they would win a state championship in High School. That school, Summerville, would go on to do just that for him. One of the players, I believe, was AJ Green. Yes, now, Wide Receiver AJ Green.
RIP to everyone.
Captain Mulkey was an assistant coach at Summerville High School (there is no middle school involved) An yes AJ Green was on that team
reminds me of the Cold Storage fire in Worcester Ma in 1999. I believe that one claimed 5 or 6 Firemen under nearly the same circumstances. I have a wonderful man up the road from me who comes from a long line of Firefighters, it's a proud and honorable profession for sure.
Was going to9 say I immediately thought of that and hope it gets covered. There's a fascinating writeup on what happened and I can't for the life of me find it now though.
The Worcester cold storage fire killed 6 firefighters, It was a horrible fire.
This fire led to Denis Leary creating the Leary Firefighter's Foundation; he knew two of the firefighters that died that day (one was his cousin, the other a close family friend). After the Charleston fire, the charity donated lots of equipment to the Charleston Fire Depaprtment.
@@guitarpick2002 Yup you are correct, they funded a training building which has been well used as well as countless donations to other departments around the state and country. Leary's cousin is Jerry Lucey who was also friends with my dad who is also a firefighter.
I remember that one. It also reminded me of the Pang Warehouse fire in January 1995, in which a fire set by an arsonist caused the deaths of 4 firefighters when a fire set in a basement caused a floor to give way, causing them to plunge into the basement.
Been in Charleston My whole life, every June 18 we have a minute of silence for the fallen as well as a bell ringing at the old site, our local news stations will read out the Names of the nine Firefighters. My mother Worked at the Senior Center at the time, one of the Seniors was the grandmother of Firefighter Melvin Champaign, he was only with the department 2 years.
I live in near that memorial in Charleston and every time I pass by it I get chills, it’s truly sad what happened and it definitely changed the city and the community as a whole
Super classy that firefighters from around the world descended upon Charleston to pay their respects to fellow firefights. Also was really cool to hear the 300+ fire trucks that came did a tribute past the fire stations the 9 were a part of.
Being poorly equipped, understaffed and without propper training, that doesn't make one a hero but a victim. Very sad and so avoidable...
Going in to do your job despite this….. does.
@@djjinxman1 Being aware of these problems and going anyways makes you not very smart.
But I assume these poor guys were not aware. Why would anyone enter a death trap knowingly?
Again, very sad...
Murica needs it's heros no matter what!
thank you to the 9 that gave their lives doing a great service.
you were and always will be hero's.
Why not just contain the fire. The building was gone already and they died trying to save furniture? Brave heroes died for furntiture
It's sad that it took 9 fire fighters to die until the fire departments in Charleston equipped their fire fighters properly. Charleston learned a very critical lesson and hopefully they are equipping their fire fighters properly these days.
So many excuses as to why 9 firefighters died!! The question is why were firefighters sent into a burning building???? Pointless!
Please stop using AI-interpolation on the videos and images in your content. It makes the blurry videos look worse and the images don't add anything to the content.
Firefighters are the real heroes who helps to fight fires and a lot of disasters!
I saw this come up on my 'recommended' list and knew I couldn't watch it. Even after a full day of steeling my nerves to get ready there are still tears in my eyes. I'm not a firefighter and I'm at the other end of the State but I have friends who are firefighters and I saw first-hand how deeply it affected them. We Southerners have a tradition of not forgetting, and we will never forget the Charleston 9.
We still have a long way to go in getting o0ur Firefighters what they need to better serve us with less risk to themselves in so doing, but at least their voices are now heard and governments are finally giving them some funding and assistance where they once had nearly none. Specific levels of training are now required of Fire Chiefs and of paid firefighters to ensure that some of the mistakes which happened here do not happen again. I sleep easier knowing my friends are now at less risk but I always know as they do that every call they respond to can very easily be their last one.
I urge everyone to take some time to contact their Government representatives and make sure your own Firefighters are getting what they need. Be sure to tell them you're watching them and that you too won't forget when election day comes.
Walmart fires are terrifying. Only time we ever lose guys is in big fires like that. Super risky, you can get lost, we have a duty to go in and most of us would happily do so. It’s a huge risk though.
A building like that should be left to burn and just stop it from spreading to other buildings
We in the UK salute these 9 hero's and send our condolences to their families and colleagues, may they rest in peace.
Same for the RNLI too, firefighters and lifeboat crews are heroes no matter what you think about them. It takes bravery and determination to step into a boat and put yourself out to sea, or get geared up to go into a burning building because there's people in there who need you to get in and save them. Everyone remembers the Kings Cross fire. Not so many remember Station Officer Townsley.
Nobody needed to know you were British. 🤢🤮
Perhaps if companies that break the rules were held accountable then maybe others would be less inclined to do the same. Firefighters are still heroes not just when they die.
They did, that's why the paid.
a heroes funeral Is the least.
I hope the coffins at least made a last stop at the fire station for them to return one last time.
When they said the firefighters smashed the windows to make escape routes for the firefighters inside.... im in complete shock that a fire chief allowed that. The worst thing you could do in any structure fire situation, that move I bet accounted for some of the deaths. Completely shocked
A super store with no fire suppression system? Owners should be in jail.
Rest In Peace all 9 fighters!
Really sad to lose so many lives when there were no lives at risk, just mattresses. Thank you for sharing. Great video. (I honestly strongly disliked/hated your last video due to the music selection and sound samples. This one here is a great improvement reminiscent of what you usually upload and I’m happy that you have an awesome channel going. Thank you)
No Lives at risk? The worker in the workshop of the store
Who was left inside?? The building is insured. Just let it burn down and keep the fire from spreading to other buildings. But oh, we're firefighters. Instead 9 people died for mattresses. Not heroic, just dumb.
Someone who lives in the area commented on here that this store was right next door to a gas station and it was a big concern. So definitely more to it then just furniture
@@ashgonza92 the risk was what was around the store, and not what was inside it
like ashley said, there was a gas station right next to the store, and i believe there was also a bunch of residential buildings close behind the store
@@awesomestuff9715 so then prevent the fire from spreading to these buildings.
That's not an argument to go inside the store.
A world without cigarettes...
Just imagine the prevented damage
Smokers hate themselves but often kill others and fill the lungs of children and innocents with harmful pollution. Smokers SUCK.
Humans aren’t that smart
Too destructive of a species
change the word "cigarettes" to "humans"... and then you're onto something!
Only poor die. The rich politicians, never. Only bla bla.
honestly i cant fault the chief giving orders to the firefighters, they didnt have much info to go on and if you ever hear a mayday, i think its almost impossible to not start panicking or at the very least try to do anything you can to try and save those firefighters.
When you see that fire retardent foam has been used on your funiture ignore that label. I carried out comprehensive tests on 12 seperate foams and although they do not drop burning plastic they are quite capable of producing lethal smoke and flames given enough heat.
I've never been clear on what "fire-retardant" really means- it's all over labels for kids clothes but like... if it's hot enough, it'll still melt and cause terrible burns, even if it doesn't *catch* fire, right?
@Rose Olivas Man made materials will melt and cause severe burns, yes. Clothing made of natural fibers are ideal, like cotton. We were taught this while being trained to work on live electrical lines, and are required to wear natural materials while performing our work for that reason.
When furniture burns it gives off a cyanide gas, that's why people die from smoke inhalation and not the fire itself.
@@roseolivas08 Many synthetic materials are made from plastic and will melt and stick to the body.
It’s fire retardant, not fire proof. There’s a difference.
It's hard to believe something this awful happened under modern Codes, but as you noted there were numerous Code violations and other factors. Fire sprinklers save lives.
This is so sad. They tried their best. Prayers to their families and the department. The picture of the South Charleston Fire Department 30 seconds in is of South Charleston, West Virginia.
All this for a damn sofa store. It isn't like it was a children's hospital or something.
Ironically, sofas are required by law to have fire retardant chemicals in them. It was a law that was pushed by the cigarette industry as a way to quell complaints about smoking related furniture fires. Also ironically, the stuff is thought to cause cancer. I don't remember, but I think they also found that it actually makes fires worse, too. Yet furniture fabric is still required to be treated with it in the United States.
It's extremely sad that a tragedy ALWAYS has to happen before regulations are taken seriously. The safety of everyone alive today was built on the bodies of the dead. Heartbreaking. Also it makes me angry that the city and state will drop millions of dollars on dumb b s and then underfund emergency responders. My city recently decided a couple years ago they were going to plant a bunch of trees along large amounts of the sidewalks to make things look prettier and then didn't increase the budgets of ANY emergency services. 2 years later literally 95% of all the trees they planted died. There's like one tree every mile now and they had to spend money to cut them down because they were a hazard to have all these dead trees. How can the government be so incompetent literally all of the time. Like how is that possible! They make the wrong decision 100% of the time you think it would be by pure chance 50% of the time it would turn out to be a good decision. Nope.
You have no clue how things work in government.
@@tmilesffl obviously I do because you didn't add anything to the discussion at all. The vast majority of All City councils are made up of Rich business owners and career politicians. That's it. Weird how in order to get elected at all you have to have a bunch of money to advertise and fund your own campaign. Almost like it's purposefully keeping the poor from winning elections or running at all.
That's because tactics are not created with the use of common sense and logic. They are created from kneejerk reactions.
That’s not true. It’s just vultures only know about it when it goes that way.
With no human lives needing saving, no one should have set a foot inside. That is what makes this case so much more infuriating than most, 9 men died "protecting/saving" the assets of a most likely insured wealthy person or corporation. With no human life to save, a cheaply built box store building and a show room full of cheap yet still (I'm sure well insured) furniture, the decision to have more than 10 men entering the building in its condition as it was as they did so, and not retreating the moment the flash occurred, makes no sense. Regardless of all the issues identified by the 3 investigating agencies like the building's issues and code violations, how the fire MAY have appeared originally to be minor(?), there is just no way that so many men made the same incompetent/unprepared/dangerous/irresponsible/unfocused/confused/counterintuitive choice to proceed as they did, getting the resulting tragedy EVEN WITH the limitations they faced that WERE identified by investigators. A bad building, code violations and lazy bureaucrats just can't explain it. I can't imagine that we had two handsfull of cowboys wanting to take on the fire like a bucking bronco ignoring obvious signs of problems, or some other systemic issue with that group dynamic. Decisions made, the decision maker........I don't know who is missing something......maybe it's me, maybe it's you Mr. Dark, or maybe it was all 3 of the investigating agencies; but, the events unfolded in a manner that just ....stinks. SOMEONE (or group) did something wrong in a very big/bad way, money and/or power (greed/corruption/incompetence) was involved; yet, according to YOUR presentation, nothing of that nature was addressed, or at least not reported to be so by you, or maybe just not picked up by me. The protecting of the bad call made to proceed(and I say it was a bad call because lives were lost where no lives needed saving) has a more sinister role to play, I'm almost sure of it. It stinks, it just does. I hope another creator has covered this event so that I can figure out what is making that horrible smell. To be fair, I am going to give it a second watch to be sure I'm being fair to you first.
I almost can't believe that 9 firemen died to put out a mattress fire with no one trapped inside the building. Even my mom thinks this is made up.
18 probably with the 9 injured as well.
something very similar happened in Worcester, Ma in 1999 with 6 firefighters perishing. still a huge mark on Massachusetts
Which would be the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire.
@@mikegallant811 precisely!
And prior to this, in 1995, a fire at Seattle's Pang Warehouse, set by the son of the building's owner, caused the deaths of 4 Seattle firefighters.
@@nopcshere6097 oh my God! I didn't even know about that one!