Union to fight for report's release
Plan to rally at council meeting
By Ron Menchaca , Glenn Smith
The nation's largest firefighters union pledged Monday to fight Charleston Mayor Joe Riley's decision to delay the release of an investigative report detailing how nine city firefighters died in last year's Sofa Super Store blaze.
Local union leaders are rallying members and the public to descend on tonight's City Council meeting to demand city leaders immediately release the findings of a city-appointed consulting panel. The report, expected to include a detailed narrative of the department's response to the fire, had been expected this week.
In our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.
But Riley announced late Friday that he won't allow the report to become public until two federal agencies also probing the blaze have released their findings. At least one of those federal reports could be three to four months from completion.
International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger accused Riley of orchestrating a "cover-up" that endangers firefighters' lives. Schaitberger said the union plans to appeal to political leaders and the public to bring pressure on the mayor. The union also is mulling legal action, he said.
Roger Yow, a former Fire Department captain and head of the local union that represents about half of the city's 250 firefighters, said the delay is a stalling tactic to stave off criticism of the department's handling of the fatal June 18 blaze. "There is just no excuse for what Mayor Riley has done. They don't want the truth to come out."
Yow and Schaitberger planned to run an ad in today's newspaper calling on City Council and residents to demand that Riley release the report.
Riley said he appreciates the concerns of the union leaders but that he thinks delaying the report is the best way to ensure its accuracy. He spoke with Schaitberger by telephone Monday and said the two respectfully disagreed.
The city held up the report's release, despite assurances from panel leader Gordon Routley that the review is complete.
Panel spokesman Pete Piringer said Monday that the city's decision does not reflect on the thoroughness of the panel's investigation. "We were very comfortable with where we were at. We had planned to present it to the city in its entirety this week."
Billy Goldfeder, a deputy chief in Ohio and a columnist for Firehouse.com, said he is confident the panel's report will be fair, accurate and full of lessons for the fire service as a whole. Unfortunately, the city's decision to delay its release simply raises "more unneeded suspicion as to the genuine intent by the City as far as truly wanting the facts and an unbiased report."
Yow said he expects a large turnout of firefighters and citizens to appeal directly to City Council tonight for the report's release.
The Rev. Jimmy Gallant, chairman of City Council's public safety committee, said the delay puts the city in a "very suspicious position." He's heard from residents who suspect the mayor and council of tampering with the report. But council members remain in the dark about the probe, despite several requests to the mayor to have the panel update them, he said.
City Councilman Wendell Gilliard said waiting on the federal investigations makes sense because it will ensure the families get correct answers and not painful hearsay. "I think it's best if we all put the families first, the ones who lost their loved ones, and do this thing right."
The city wants to wait on reports from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is examining the factors that led to the firefighters' deaths, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is using computer models to reconstruct the blaze. Routley told The Post and Courier on Friday that the panel already has incorporated those findings into its report.
Riley said the report could be released this summer but he refused to commit to a timetable. "To run the risk of a report that may not be complete would be a mistake," Riley wrote in a memo to City Council explaining his decision.
Fred Blosser, public affairs officer for NIOSH, said Monday that his agency's report is three to four months from completion. "It all depends on the complexity of the investigation. They always take several months. I don't think a year is unusual."
Reach Ron Menchaca at rmenchaca@postandcourier.com or 937-5724. Reach Glenn Smith at gsmith@postandcourier.com or 937-5556.
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Burntower (anonymous) says...
Mayor please do us all a favor and never speak on the respect you have for my brothers and their family's, and may God have mercy on your soul you heartless bastard. You sold your soul to cover up all that is wrong so you can look better to the public and help your friends! You my friend are a JOKE!
May 6, 2008 at 3:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Please count my name among those who want this report to be made public.
May 6, 2008 at 3:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dustym59 (anonymous) says...
ya'll gonna be ok...just remember the emperor wears no clothes, buy him a new suit...unemployment.
May 6, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
There is a full page open letter on page 8A of my hard copy of the paper.
May 6, 2008 at 6:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Does anyone else hear the sound of the good old boys circling the wagons.
May 6, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
This is such an insane cover story. According to the Mayor, if the City report is different than the federal reports, then the City report must be "incomplete." But if the City report is going to be withheld until it is the same as the federal report, then it was just a wasteful duplication of effort.
Release the report!
May 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Too often pols get away with these tactics. We can see the same tactics almost every week in the news at some level of government. Riley knows that these tactics work most of the time. The people have their minds on more pressing immediate needs and soon lose their interest and zeal. Baaa.
May 6, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
markasnyder (anonymous) says...
An open letter to Mayor Riley (rileyj@ci.charleston.sc.us):
Mr. Mayor,
I am writing to you to ask that you release the report of the Sofa Super Store Fire immediately. Does it contain something of which you, or perhaps an associate, are frightened? That is the impression you are giving us-those who believe the families of the fallen need every ounce of closure possible.
The longer you stall, the more their pain drags on.
By the way, I feel compelled to say that I feel it was an abomination to pay the negligent owner of that store for his land.
May 6, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dr_fed (anonymous) says...
Bend over Charleston...It's time for Riley to screw you over again. Third rate piece of sh*t mayor! Remove him from office.
May 6, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
markasnyder (anonymous) says...
C'mon...no witch hunt here. This is good 'ol boy mentality at it's apex.
Does anyone remember the morning following the fire when Riley declared that there was no evidence of arson? The site was still smoldering! How could anyone possibly make that assessment???
If he wasn't covering his buddy's ass, then he must be psychic. You tell me.
Furthermore, how does one justify PAYING for the land on which the store stood? A store far below code..."grandfathered" in... illegally constructed sections...non-functional fire breaks...where's the word negligent in all of this???
No. Sorry. None of it washes. Nine men died needlessly. All because Joe's pal didn't want to pay the cost of doing the right thing, and now they're all being called on it.
Frankly, I'm shocked that the outrage isn't greater.
May 6, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
You forget, the dynasty of Riley isn't affected by the common people. They re-elected him. You're stuck. Take your next chance and get rid of him.
May 6, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Well you get what you vote for!!!!!
May 6, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
miki (anonymous) says...
Please contact your city council rep ASAP and let them know your view on the release of the report. Phone numbers and some email addresses can be found here: http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/c...
May 6, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
The people spoke last year. Four more years for our Mayor. The problem can be solved by pointing out the trouble makers in the dept and fire them. Most of them don't even live here in the City.
May 6, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JF (anonymous) says...
Please, all the criticism! What else would anyone expect? We elected Riley emporor and we knew his faults. We knew his claims that the CFD was the best in the country were absurd. We know he runds the city like a nepotistic fiefdom. We knew Riley never ever admits mistakes. This is another brilliant delay tactic by Riley! By releasing all the reports, it will dilute the effect of having several critical reports released over a period of time. Its kind of like getting one big spanking instead of one a day for a week. I think the mayor will be able to pull this off, and get back to telling us how wonderful the city is and how we will be a shining example to the rest of the country of how things should be done. We got what we voted for, its kind of late in the game to complain now.
May 6, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
candygirl (anonymous) says...
JF, I agree with you,
You people voted to give him 4 more years ,so no need to complain.
May 6, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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