Charleston mayoral candidate calls for swift response to furniture store fire
In his first public comments since nine Charleston firefighters were killed in the Sofa Super Store fire June 18, mayoral candidate William Dudley Gregorie said the fire department should move quickly to make changes in its firefighting procedures.
Gregorie said the city should follow the recommendations of fire safety experts and an association that represents firefighters to change its procedures to be in line with state and national standards.
"A Gregorie administration would move aggressively to change outdated methods that subject firefighters to unnecessary hazards," he said at a news conference this morning. "I would not be arrogantly defending these practices, or calling the recommendations of experienced firemen and fire safety experts 'foolhardy.'"
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Dudley Gregorie and Joe Riley comment
Charleston Mayoral candidate Dudley Gregorie makes his first public comments since nine city firefighters were killed, and Mayor Joe Riley responds.
Mayor Joe Riley said the city is participating in a thorough and ongoing investigation of the fire.
"If we discover any reason to change policies and procedures we will do that," Riley said. "No one should be trying to make political hay out of this tragedy."
Gregorie also said firefighter pay should be evaluated to make sure that firefighters don't need to work second jobs. Entry-level firefighters with no college degree or prior experience start at $27,013.
"This is not a time to point fingers, nor is it a time to get defensive," Gregorie said. "It's a time for action."
Gregorie, 58, will face Riley, 64, who is running for a ninth four-year term this year.
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Comments
guido72 (anonymous) says...
Who?
July 3, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captregis3 (anonymous) says...
I'm not from South Carolina but for someone with no firefighting experience to try to capitalize on this tragedy is purely sickening. I have read almost every news article on this tragedy and feel for the families and the firefighters and truly believe Chief Thomas and Mayor Riley did great jobs in leading the fire department and city in its grief and loss. I would love to have a Mayor like you have in my hometown.
July 3, 2007 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wesdun (anonymous) says...
Shame, shame Mr Gregorie.
July 3, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
How long will the voters in the City of Charleston keep putting Joe Riley in office?? This man is one of the longest serving mayors in the country. His arrogrance is astounding! "We are open to all ideas?" Please Joe! The only idea you want to hear is your own! I can't wait for the state and ATF reports to come out that will show that serious changes need to be made in the Charleston FD. I agree that they need to pay these fine men and women what they are worth. They also need to look at the promotion system. So let me see, if you were running for mayor, you are not supposed to say anything about the fire and loss of life?
July 3, 2007 at 5:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
east3 (anonymous) says...
Mr. Gregorie is entirely correct. As a district fire chief of 32 years experience in a department very similar in size and aggressive philosophy to the CFD, I can tell you there are changes that need to be made NOW. They do not require an investigation. There are nationally accepted professional standards in place that can be adopted today. The City Council should do so. I take nothing away from the firefighters - they did as they were trained and stayed inside in intolerable conditions. A properly functioning and knowledgeable command system would have pulled them out as soon as it was clear they were not confining the fire to the back of the store. Their deaths were avoidable. The critics are speaking up for the sake of the firefighters. The CFD chiefs have circled the wagons and insisted nothing was done wrong and have dismissed the need for change. Their "techniques" killed nine firefighters. The best tradition of the fire service is to adopt new technologies and techniques. We gave up steam and horses a while ago. If the Chief is not willing to lead change NOW, he should be replaced with an officer who will.
July 3, 2007 at 11:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rjahopp (anonymous) says...
Tongue in cheek? Another Hughie Long?
Mayor Riley speaks from both sides of his mouth:
Above he says "No one should be trying to make political hay out of this tragedy."
Which is exactly what he is doing to push his political agenda to buy property ($8M) for the proposed Long Savannah project:
"One day after announcing plans to buy the Sofa Super Store site where nine Charleston firefighters perished and create a memorial there, Mayor Joe Riley suggested that a proposed county park he's been advocating could be an additional memorial site."
He disgraches all BEHS alunmni!
July 7, 2007 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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