Deadliest U.S. blaze for firefighters since Sept. 11 engulfs South Carolina warehouse, collapses roof

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Fire swept through a furniture warehouse, collapsing its roof and killing nine firefighters inside, the nation’s deadliest single disaster for firefighters since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.\n“Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties,” Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference. “To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them.”\nTwo employees in the building were rescued from the blaze, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Monday in the Sofa Super Store and warehouse, Riley said. One was rescued quickly, and firefighters punched a hole through a wall of the warehouse to reach the other, he said.\nFirefighters, police officers and other rescue workers saluted as the firefighters’ bodies were carried from the warehouse during the night.\n“To lose nine is just a tragedy of immense proportions,” Riley said. “To lose nine is just unbelievable.”\nThe department has 237 firefighters in 19 companies located throughout the city of about 106,000.\nThe cause of the fire was under investigation, but Riley said arson was not suspected. He said the blaze apparently started in a storage area. He was unsure whether there were sprinklers in the building.\nFire Chief Rusty Thomas said he lost nine of his best friends.\n“They did exactly what they were trained to do,” he said. “We got a long road ahead of us but we’re going to stand tall. ... We’re going to stand tall now and for years to come with the families, and we will never forget, just like 9-11, we will never forget.”\nIt was the worst single incident to claim firefighters’ lives since the Sept. 11 attacks, which killed 340 firefighters, two paramedics and a chaplain, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It was the deadliest fire in South Carolina since a 1979 blaze killed 11 people in the Lancaster County jail.\n“These firefighters were true heroes who demonstrated great skill and courage. Their unwavering commitment to their neighbors and to the city of Charleston is an inspiration to all Americans,” President Bush said in a statement issued in Washington.\nOfficials identified the victims Tuesday as Capt. William “Billy” Hutchinson, 48; Capt. Mike Benke, 49; Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34; Engineer Mark Kelsey, 40; Engineer Bradford “Brad” Baity, 37; Assistant Engineer Michael French, 27; Firefighter James “Earl” Drayton, 56; Firefighter Brandon Thompson, 27, and Firefighter Melven Champaign, 46.\nRiley called the firefighters heroes.\n“This is a profession that we must never take for granted,” the mayor said. “There’s a fire raging and they go toward it.”