On June 18, 2007, nine career professional firefighters were killed during a commercial furniture showroom and warehouse fire. As they continued to fight the fire from the interior under “interior attack operations”, a door was opened by Assistant Chief.

The call was dispatched at 1907 hours, on June 18, 2007, as a possible fire behind a commercial retail furniture store. The first due responder (initial IC) radioed dispatch: “The fire is just a “bunch of trash free-burning against the side of the structure.” It would quickly turn chaotic and an out-of-control fire.

(L) Photo courtesy of Alexander Fox, Associated Press

With the opening of the door, the fire spread from the showroom to the loading dock, within a short amount of time catch furniture ablaze. This would allow for an additional fire load creating a huge amount of toxic and highly flammable gases along with soot.

The Interior Attack group would soon be overwhelmed by the heavy black smoke that began to fill the room they were in from floor to ceiling, as well as disoriented. Soon there was a mayday called but the fiery of the fire quickly spread throughout the area where the firefighters were located.

Nine firefighters died in the Line-of-Duty. Nine others, including two mutual aid firefighters, barely escaped with their lives and serious injuries.

Several of those who died were from Engines 19, 16, 15, and Ladder 5 and all ranged in age 27-56 with a combined 131.5 years of experience.

It was a very sad and tragic day for those who died in the Charleston fire, their families, fellow firefighters, and the communities this fire really touched. A lot of improvements appear to have taken place after the investigation and multiple recommendations made to the Fire department.

Yesterday was the 16th year Anniversary and we should Never Forget.

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