(Updated
July 18, 2007) -- Nine fire fighters in Charleston, South
Carolina, died June 18 in a tragic furniture warehouse fire.
“We
have lost nine members of our family in this horrific fire,” says IAFF General
President Harold Schaitberger. “As fire fighters, we know the risks of answering
the call, but it does not lessen our pain when the worst happens.”
The fire broke out about 7:00 p.m. June 18 in the Sofa Super Store and
warehouse. Witnesses said the store's roof collapsed, throwing debris over about
two-dozen rescue workers.
The nine fire officers and fire fighters have been identified as Captain William "Billy"
Hutchinson, 48; Captain Theodore M. "Mike" Benke, 49; Captain Louis Mulkey, 34; engineer Mark
Kelsey, 40; engineer Rodney Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37; assistant engineer Michael
French, 27; fire fighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56; fire fighter Brandon
Thompson, 27; and fire fighter Melven Champaign, 46.
Baity was treasurer of Charleston Local 61.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Thousands of fire fighters from across the nation gathered at the North
Charleston Coliseum June 22 to honor their nine colleagues killed in a furniture
store blaze June 18.
The IAFF has established THE IAFF CHARLESTON FIRE FIGHTERS JUNE 18 FUND
to provide financial assistance to the families of the nine fire fighters who
lost their lives in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 18, 2007. Contributions
to this fund, which are not tax deductible as charitable contributions, can be
mailed to the following address:
THE IAFF CHARLESTON FIRE FIGHTERS JUNE 18 FUND
c/o IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer’s Office
1750 New York Avenue, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
LINKS:
Charleston Local 61 web site
Message from IAFF General
President Harold Schaitberger
