9 Firefighters lost in SC Sofa factory fire

[gddyup]

9 Firefighters lost their lives today battling a fire at a sofa warehouser in SC. They had saved 2 people from the fire before the roof collapsed and killed 9.

RIP Brothers.


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Mayor Joe Riley confirmed on CNN this morning that nine firefighters were were killed Monday night in a massive blaze at a sofa store and warehouse here.

Most were killed he said, when a large set of shelves collapsed in the rear of the one-story building. He did not think there were sprinklers in the building. He also said the firefighters were looking for employees at the time and had no warning about the inpending tragedy.

Other local news organizations were reporting the store's roof collapsed and sent debris over about two-dozen rescue workers while spectators were hit with flying ash.

Riley called the missing firefighters heroes. "This is a profession that we must never take for granted," the mayor said. "There's a fire raging and they go toward it."

There were reports of other firefighters injured as well.

Video of the scene showed a line of firefighters standing at attention, saluting as the bodies of the firefighters were carried from the building.

A crisis team from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was deployed, and were en route to Charleston just after midnight, said Ron Siarnicki, NFFF executive director.

"The team will be in Charleston to help the department in any way it can. We're there to support them during this time."

Firehouse.com will be updating this story throughout the morning as more details become available.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[CopperKnight]

A sad day for all.

[QKShooter]

That was terrible.
A horrible tragedy.
R.I.P.

[Superhouse 15]

I don't know about you and your departments, but mine is on a "safety stand down" today. We take a break from routine stuff to focus on safety, wellness, and such. Sad way to get a reminder.

[gddyup]

I don't know about you and your departments, but mine is on a "safety stand down" today. We take a break from routine stuff to focus on safety, wellness, and such. Sad way to get a reminder.

I'm on duty tomorrow so I'm sure we'll be the same.

"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered:
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother..."
~Shakespeare

What is a firefighter?
He's the guy next door....
He's a guy like you and me with warts and worries and unfulfilled dreams.
Yet he stands taller than most of us.
He's a fireman....
A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.
He's a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.
He's a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.
He's responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again....
He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.
He lives it.
~Author Unknown

[QKShooter]

I was watching that on the news earlier and that was a very close-knit town concerning their firefighters and they are all truly broken up over this.

[nn]

Real shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stetson]

May God watch over lost men and their families.Such a tragic loss!

[TN_Mike]

God Bless them and their families.

We lived in Charleston from 1990 to 1993. I was stationed at the Charleston Naval Base when I was discharged in Dec 1993. It's a very cool town. Has a real small town feel to it. I am sure there is hardly a life that this tragedy will not touch in Charleston.

[firefighter4884]

Hymn to the Fallen Heros

Young and aged
volunteer and career,
man and woman
of all races and colors,
you left aching hearts behind

An eternal flame
warms your names
inscribed on cold, lifeless plaques
around this stone cairn
In the hearts you left behind
your memories abide
in undying gratitude

You asked nothing more
You knew the risks,
served without fear
and paid the highest price

You embody a quality
of which many only dream
Your selflessness for others
is now your eternal crown

O fallen comrades,
give us all this quality
that we may more fittingly
prolong your memory

Anonymous

June 1999
National Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Emmittsburg, MD

Such a sad day :(

[Miggy]

St. Florian Prayer

St. Florian, Heaven's patron of firefighters,
who once was dedicated to the services
of your fellowmen as an official in the
Army of Rome, look with kindly and
professional eye upon your earthly force,
desirous of the preserving of our fellowmen
from the dangers to life and property.
Give us cool heads, stout hearts, strong muscles
an instinct for prudent investigation and
wise judgment.

Make us the terror of arsonists, the friends of
law-abiding citizens, kind to the frightened,
polite to the bores, strict with lawbreakers,
and obstinate to temptations.

In troubles give us strength to be efficient,
in times of great danger, give us the ability
to be calm and enable us to impart assurance
to those who verge on panic.

You know, beloved St. Florian, from the
sacrifice of your own life for the sake of
your faith, that the fireman's lot on earth
is not always a pleasant one, but your
sense of duty that so pleased God, your
courageous strength that so over-whelmed
the devil and your saintly self-control,
give us inspiration.

Make us as fearless in practicing the laws
of God as we are brave in protecting the
lives and property of our fellowmen, and
when we answer our final alarm, enroll
us in your Heavenly force, where we will be
as proud to protect the throne of God as
we have been to protect the city.

amen

[Npete7381]

God bless the fallen firefighters and their families.

Here is a link to a reading of the Firefighter's Prayer from around the time of 9/11, it gives me chills every time I hear it.

http://www.alfredny.biz/09-11-2001_T...ers_prayer.wav

[elance]

i thank them for their service and ultimate sacrifice, and wish their families and friends strength and comfort .

elance

[me]

May the Lord comfort the families of our fallen brothers. STAND DOWN - we kill too many of our own for lost causes and buildings we should write off, I was not their on their arrival but even with possible people inside sometimes we have to write people and things off. This upsets me to no end that our family in the fire service last 9 brothers, even more so to know that it ended up being for nothing.

[gddyup]

STAND DOWN - we kill too many of our own for lost causes and buildings we should write off, I was not their on their arrival but even with possible people inside sometimes we have to write people and things off. This upsets me to no end that our family in the fire service last 9 brothers, even more so to know that it ended up being for nothing.

I emphatically disagree, but that is a subject for another time.


"All gave some, but some gave all."