Report: firefighters were inadequately trained and exposed to excessive risk
Updated 05:45 p.m., May 15, 2008
Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier/File
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A Charleston Fire Department over-confident in its ability to aggressively extinguish fires and totally lacking in modern tactics and equipment and a sprawling furniture store in violation of fire and building codes proved a deadly combination at the June 18 Sofa Super Store fire, according to a report from a city-appointed panel of firefighting experts.
Insufficient training, inadequate staffing, obsolete equipment and outdated tactics contributed to an ineffective response and effort to control the June 18 fire in its early stages, the 272-page report stated.
The department's time-tested, one-size-fits-all expertise at battling fires in downtown Charleston's historic homes and buildings was no match for a raging blaze at a massive suburban furniture outlet, constructed in piecemeal of man-made materials and stuffed full of flammable couches.
"The culture of the Charleston Fire Department promoted aggressive offensive tactics that exposed firefighters to excessive and avoidable risks and failed to apply basic firefighter safety practices," according to the report from the six-member panel. "The strategy and tactics attempted by Department members were inappropriate for the situation and exposed the firefighters to extreme and unnecessary risks."
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley said there was no connection between Chief Rusty Thomas' announcement Wednesday of his decision to retire June 27 and the report's findings. But some experts say the report is so damning that they have no doubt it influenced Thomas's abrupt announcement. The panel pointed to command failures and undersized water hoses as predominant factors in the fire department's "unstructured and uncoordinated" response to the blaze.
The report provides a comprehensive and frank account of a fast-moving trash fire that spiraled into a raging inferno, warped steel and sent the roof crashing down on firefighters within 40 minutes of the first 911 call. The suspected cause of the fire was the careless disposal of "smoking materials" near a heap of discarded furniture, packaging materials and highly flammable solvents that the store was not permitted to stockpile.
The report describes a chaotic scene in which firefighters charged into the building with no clear strategy for how to attack an intense fire that they were completely unprepared to fight. The report concludes that the immensity of the fire and sheer volume of flammable materials demanded that firefighters back away and battle the blaze defensively from outside the building with aerial ladders and other resources.
The department's command system was virtually nonexistent, leaving firefighters without supervision or clear instructions and leaving commanders with no idea of who was where and what they were doing. Key tasks were left undone and life-saving posts were never established in the rush to funnel as many people inside as possible.
"The predominant factor identified in the analysis of Fire Department operations is the failure to manage the incident according to accepted practices," the report states. "There was no structured incident command system in place and the essential duties of an Incident Commander were not performed. The operation was conducted in an unstructured and uncoordinated manner, without overall direction and with inadequate supervision. The Charleston Fire Department was inadequately staffed, inadequately trained, insufficiently equipped, and organizationally unprepared to conduct an operation of this complexity in a large commercial occupancy."
The report also contains new details about the earliest minutes of the fire. Alerted by a passer-by that a fire had broken out at the back of the building, a store employee grabbed a fire extinguisher and trained it on a small fire near the loading dock. He ran back into the store for a second extinguisher, but by the time he returned, the smoke had overtaken the loading dock and moved inside the building.
The first crews of firefighters began arriving at about that same moment, the report says.
Thomas was not the initial commander on the scene the night of the fire. He arrived as the blaze was beginning to spread into the store and before the first distress calls were made from firefighters lost or trapped inside. But both he and Assistant Fire Chief Larry Garvin failed to follow nationally recognized standards that call for commanders to stay put so they can monitor changing fire conditions and coordinate manpower and equipment. Instead, they were all over the place, barking orders and inserting themselves in front-line operations. This left no one with an outside overview of the rapidly changing conditions as the store filled with superheated smoke and toxic vapors needing only fresh oxygen to erupt.
The report says fire commanders did not hear pleas for help from firefighters who were lost in the store's maze-like layout, running out of air and struggling to navigate through coal-black smoke and super-heated air. Fragmented communications from lost and disoriented firefighters continued for approximately seven minutes.
Fallen firefighter Melvin Champaign called for help over his radio numerous times from inside the store.
"We need some help," he pleaded. "Can you hear me, dispatcher?"
A moment later, he prays. "In Jesus' name, Amen."
No one responded to his calls.
"The radio messages indicating that firefighters were in distress were not heard by anyone at the incident scene..." the report says.
Champaign's cousin, Carl Champaign, was devastated after learning of his relative's desperate, unanswered calls for help. "Right now, my heart is broke."
The department did not adhere to accepted radio communication protocols designed to provide orderly commands and instructions and to ensure that "mayday" calls from firefighters are heard and immediately acted upon, the consultants found. "The communications process was not controlled. The Fire Chief, the Assistant Chief, and Battalion Chief 4 were all issuing orders and providing direction independently, using a single overloaded radio channel. Critical messages, including distress message from firefighters inside of the structure, were not heard."
Randy Hutchinson, a former Charleston firefighter who lost his brother, Capt. Billy Hutchinson, in the fire, said the report underscores problems that were known early on but few wanted to talk about, namely the failure of commanders to effectively manage the scene. "It definitely points out there was no command structure whatsoever at the fire. Period."
The department's policy at the time of allowing firefighters' air tanks to be only partially filled left some firefighters inside the store running out of air in as little as 12 or 13 minutes, according to the city-appointed panel. As a choking blanket of smoke filled the showroom, frantic firefighters scrambled to find a way out before their air tanks ran dry. One firefighter described how his comrades collided with him in the rush to escape. One desperate firefighter even crawled between his legs.
At least 16 firefighters were inside at the time. But Thomas was unaware of this "critical situation" inside the showroom until an off-duty battalion chief arrived and told him about the distress calls. Thomas didn't have an overall grasp of the operation and had assumed things were going well: that Garvin was "conducting a successful operation to keep fire from extending into the showrooms."
As conditions worsened, Thomas, and later Garvin, ordered firefighters to smash the front showroom windows to clear away smoke and help the men inside, witnesses told the panel. That action had almost immediate consequences.
"There is ample evidence that breaking the windows provided air to the fire and accelerated the ignition of the showroom contents," the report stated. "The windows were broken at approximately 19:35 (7:35 p.m.) and the interior of the main showroom became fully involved within three to four minutes."
The panel stated that breaking the windows likely accelerated the flashover that occurred. However, they noted that there were very few viable options at that point. "If the windows had not been broken, the atmosphere probably would have become ripe for a backdraft to occur within a short time," the report stated.
Neither Thomas nor Garvin recalled giving orders to break the windows, the report stated. But St. Andrews firefighter Steven Beasley told The Post and Courier this week that he clearly recalls Thomas giving the order to smash out the glass spanning the front of the store. "That's not the way you are supposed to do it, but (Thomas) was the incident commander. He's the one who calls the shots."
Moments later, Beasley and fellow St. Andrews firefighter Daniel Bilton entered the store in one last-ditch effort to rescue downed firefighters. They managed to get hold of at least one firefighter just inside the showroom.
But the air rushing in through the broken windows fed the hungry flames and a ball of fire shot through the store, thrusting Beasley and Bilton back outside and causing them to lose their grip on the firefighter. Hours later, recovery crews would find the bodies of fallen firefighters James "Earl" Drayton and Brad Baity, just a short distance from the front doors.
Families of the fallen firefighters were briefed on the report Thursday morning, followed by presentations for firefighters later in the day. Family members filed into the Gaillard Auditorium for the panel's 2 p.m. presentation. Within 20 minutes, some had heard enough and left the auditorium. Outside, family members hugged, smoked cigarettes and tried to make sense of the overwhelming report.
Most said they did not want to talk. Those who did expressed continued support for Thomas and said the report makes it clear that much of the tragedy was out of the chief's hands.
Holly Gildea, daughter of fallen fighter Capt. Mike Benke, said she was saddened by the report, particularly the problems firefighters ran into with lack of water and running out of air in their tanks.
But she said Thomas should not shoulder all the blame; there is plenty to go around. "We can't point our finger at Rusty. It was not all him. It was such a mixture of things. I wish him all the best. He has his own nightmare as well as us."
The report paints a picture of the sofa store as a time bomb waiting to be lit. It describes the sofa store as a deathtrap, identifying its dense layout of furniture, padlocked doors and poorly maintained or identified exits. "The inadequate number of exits, locked exits, and obstructed paths to exits significantly reduced the potential for firefighters who were inside the showroom buildings to find a path to safety."
"The fire could have been prevented. If the property had been constructed and maintained in accordance with state and local codes the fire would have been quickly controlled: no lives would have been lost and the fire would have been of little consequence," according to the report.
Jean Dangerfield, sister of fallen firefighter Michael French, said the numerous violations at the store highlighted in the report should not go unnoticed. Building owners need to ensure their properties are safe and up to code "so these guys aren't walking in on a suicide mission."
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Comments
This article has 53 comment(s)
Posted by a_set_love on May 15, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Riley, you kept this man in charge of the fire dept and you kept the fire department starved for adequate funding. If you did not understand how incompetent the fire chief was, as indicated by this report, your judgment must come into question.
I expect to see your resignation on the governor’s desk by Monday morning.
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on May 15, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now come on TP, that's not fair. The P&C really needs to win another award for their coverage of this unfortunate event. If that means being a LITTLE redundant, than so be it.
Posted by toastchee on May 15, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh boy.
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YA.....THE P&C HAS BEEN THE ONLY SOURCE OF MEDIA THAT HAS BEEN LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES....I KNOW THIS FOR FACT BECAUSE I HAD TO HELP GET THEIR VOICES HEARD CONCERNING SOME ISSUES.
THEY DO DESERVE AN AWARD! ESPECIALLY GLEN SMITH....HIS HEART IS AWESOME!!!
HE HAS BEEN RESPECTFUL AND WHEN WE NEEDED HIM....HE HELPED US!!
THANKS P&C!!!
never forgetting wtih u,
missy
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on May 15, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh please.
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
W/E
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IS THAT REPORT PDF FILE THE SAME FROM THE OTHER DAY????
I CAN'T GET IT OPEN!!!
Posted by toastchee on May 15, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
>>All of the deceased firefighters died from combination of >>smoke inhalation and/or thermal burns.
Heads need to ()*#$ roll!!!!!
Posted by ptmama73 on May 15, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Charleston Fire Department was inadequately staffed, inadequately trained, insufficiently equipped, and organizationally unprepared to conduct an operation of this complexity in a large commercial occupancy."
Hmmm...Sounds like a major budget issue was a factor in all this - staffing = $$$$$, training = $$$$$, equipment = $$$$$. Ultimately, this responsibility falls on Riley and the County Council. The safety of your community and employees is a much more important issue than tourism and aquariums and self named ball parks. Where are YOUR resignations?
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanx... :O(.....
Posted by a_set_love on May 15, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Riley, while other cities across America were spending tax money on modernizing their fire departments to protect the citizens, Charleston refused to.
Lord knows, you collected enough taxes. Where is the money you collected. What was it spent on? An accounting is in order, Mr. Riley.
We demand answers!
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on May 15, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah. Riley couldn't find the money for proper training, equipment, or staffing but HOW MUCH did he just spend on buying the SSS site?
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 15, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, Riley needs to accept responsibility for this one. I'm sure there will be a huge angry mob following him around town, demanding his resignation very, very soon...
This could have been avoided by adequately funding the firemen and any of their needs. I bet all the money I have that if it were his house on fire, the best equipment would have been used.
I wanna get in on that mob!
Posted by Paoa on May 15, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How are Rusty Thomas' supporters feeling after seeing this report. And Mayor Riley you are going to receive a lot of deserved flak over what the Routley Report reveals !! Time to take a good look at Joe Riley. Inmy opinion, he needs to go too!!
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 15, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He needed to go before Rusty. It's not Rusty's fault he didn't have funding.. it's Riley's.
Our roads STILL suck, we have a crappy baseball field, we have an overpriced aquarium... we have horse piss all over downtown.... WHERE'S THE MONEY???!!!!
Posted by Burntower on May 15, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wont let me download, any suggestions please!
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ME TOO!! I CANT GET THE DANG THING!!
Posted by carolinagal on May 15, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So who was the bright one who did not properly extinguish their cigarette? Do they not deserve any of the slack???- if it wasn't for them, our 9 friends would still be alive, Rusty could still be doing his job and the list goes on and on.
Posted by Paoa on May 15, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianneo558 why do you think the city keeps annexing everything in sight? They need to pay for Joe Riley's pet projects like The fish tank(AKA Aquarium)which is in the red,the developement off of Bees Ferry Road, the developement in the Neck,Spoleto (which needs money).The sad thing is that the city will suffer after Riley is gone, because they will have to pay off bills he and city council helped to create !
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 15, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
carolinagal,
Unfortunately, if it weren't for that person's carelessness, none of these risks would have been brought to light.
It always takes some major tragedy to get things done around Charleston.
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 15, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paoa-
Riley's annual salary is larger than Governor Mark Sanford's!!!
By almost 50k.
Posted by One_Down_Ten_To_Go on May 15, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Well Well.....NOW will people stop thinking there was nothing that could be done? The Perfect Storm everyone has been talking about WASNT at the fire that night, it has been brewing in Joe's and Rusty's offices for 16 years....THAT was the storm that caused this tragedy. Improper this, improper that...blah blah.. The man has zero, ZERO credentials to be a Fire Chief unless you count "One of Joes Boys" as cred... Someone wrote he doesnt write his own budget??? BULLL CRAP.. he writes, recommends and spends every DIME as he sees fit. Someone needs to get that accountabilty from him and the Dept QUICK before he leaves and we cant anymore. HE authorizes EVERY red cent that goes out... Rustys gone, thats one. By my count we have 10 to go including a couple Asst Chiefs, a training Chief, His Honor the Mayor and some Captains. Watch your backs....its coming, and Hells coming with it...
Posted by Zod on May 15, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Our roads STILL suck, we have a crappy baseball field, we have an overpriced aquarium... we have horse piss all over downtown.... WHERE'S THE MONEY???!!!!"
You do not have to cite unrelated items to the fire budget, Marianne. Ask any CFD how much time they spend on writing code violations for local business. Where is THAT cash?
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 15, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well did they ever write the SSS any code violations???
They need to go to every furniture store in the Charleston area to make sure things are up to code or else this senseless tragedy is only going to claim more lives.
Posted by glevans on May 15, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I tried to download the report also and it wouldn't download much less open! I have every possible version of Adobe software (including the full version) on my computer that would be needed to open it. It tried for about 10 minutes and then I got an error. It is a really large file so that could be part of the problem. If you are using dial up it will never work but I was using a T1 connection and it still will not work. I had a friend that died in that fire and I want to read why he lost his life and what was the cause. Maybe it would help if they broke it up into several smaller files but until something is done, apparently there isn't going to be any way to get that file downloaded and opened.
Posted by Neponset on May 15, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For those who can't open the report, perhaps you do not have the required software - need Adobe Reader, which is free.
Posted by glevans on May 15, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, I finally got it to download.
Go to the link on this page to the PDF file and right-click on the link labeled "Read a PDF copy of the 272-page fire report.". When the drop-down box appears select "Save Target As" and then find a place on your computer to store the file. When the box opens click Save and wait until it is downloaded. After it is downloaded, you can open it.
Posted by goosecreekgurl on May 15, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HMMMMM.... I wonder if it was Mayor Rudy Guiliani's fault that quite a few members of the FDNY were lost in the tragedy of 9/11? Or maybe the fire chief associated? Maybe THEY should have known that the buildings were going to come down and should not have sent their guys in the Twin Towers. Someone ALWAYS MUST BE BLAMED! It's ridiculous. That's why we call things "accidents". Last I checked, we did not call them "On purpose's".
Maybe those that are quick to HANG CHIEF THOMAS TO DRY and those that know so much about fire fighting should immediately apply for his position! Better yet, maybe we should start a petition to get you people hired!
Posted by UberBlitzkrieg on May 15, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
goosecreekgurl... YAWN...
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UR AWESOME GLEVANS!!
I JUST GOT IT OPEN THAT WAY....THANX SO MUCH!!
never forgetting together,
missy
Posted by ptmama73 on May 15, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NO ONE said that Chief Thomas did not write his own budget. But budgets are approved by someone or some council or both depending on the situation.
So, with that being said, I will try to make my point a little clearer: THE BLAME DOES NOT LIE WITH JUST ONE PERSON. One resignation does not cut it. If you are going to punish one then you need to look up the chain and determine the underlying cause.
Funding could have been shifted from touristy crap such as the fish tank to Critical services like the fire, police, and EMS departments.
Chief Thomas, Mayor riley and county council all hold a piece of the responsibility pie for this tragedy.
Posted by kerwandstarks on May 15, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In a way this reminds me of the bunch that have blamed Bush and Cheney for 9/11. Put the blame where it belongs, the careless smoker and more importantly the owner of SSS.
Posted by glevans on May 15, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Missy, I am glad that I could help. Sorry I didn't figure it out sooner...would have saved everyone a lot of time!
Posted by BigSargeofSC on May 15, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
goosecreekgurl, there is no comparison, not even in your wildest dreams, between the SSS event and 9/11. The City of New York had a plan for dealing with terrorist attacks and they carried it out. The leaders of CFD went to this fire as if going to a backyard BBQ. Poor building conditions and a lack for fire fighting command and control cost nine people their lives. Althought I am not a firefighter, I am a former Army Non-commisioned Officer and full and well understand that you don't go into a violent situation without someone calling the shoots. And God have mercy on your soul if you call the wrong one.
Posted by LiveYourBestLife on May 15, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember at this time finger-pointing will not work and people's lives will not be restored, they are lost. In a series of unfortunate events, nine men lost their lives doing what they wanted to do. If they did not want to risk their lives fighting fires, they should not have been there.
Their lives are lost and their families changed. Instead of complaining and griping all the time, placing blame on anyone, maybe each of us needs to see how we, as a community, can support those risking their lives. Hind sight is 20/20, and the community needs to draw together, not gripe each other apart and create schisms were none exist.
Another scene like this will probably happen again, but what can we take from this one and make sure we are prepared.
So, in my thoughts: quit complaining and take an active part. Your complaints fuel the fire no one can stop, so work with those in charge to make it a better place! Pray always!
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FROM WHAT I AM READING....IT STARTED WITH THE SSS...
The fire could have been prevented. If the property had been constructed and
maintained in accordance with state and local codes the fire would have been
quickly controlled: no lives would have been lost and the fire would have been of
little consequence.
The fire would not have occurred if the combustible materials had not
been stored in proximity to a smoking area or of smoking had been
prohibited in that area.
The fire would have been quickly controlled with minor damage if a
sprinkler system had been installed.
A sprinkler system would have been required if the building owner had
obtained permits for the loading dock and other “fill-in” construction
projects
THEN IT MOVES ON....
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HERE IS MORE....SSS AT FAULT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRE....BUT.....The fire suppression operations that were conducted by the Charleston Fire
Department at the Sofa Super Store did not comply with federal occupational
health and safety regulations
The fire would not have spread to the showroom areas or the warehouse if
the loading dock enclosure had not been constructed.
The fire would have been less severe if flammable liquids had not been
improperly stored in the loading dock.
The firefighters might have been able to find their way out of the building if
the required exits had been properly maintained.
The code violations would have been discovered if the City of Charleston
had conducted regular fire inspections and if firefighters had been trained
to identify code violations during pre-fire planning visits and report them to
the Inspections Department
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on May 15, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I DON'T WANT THE OWNER TO GET AWAY WITH HIS FAULT'S EITHER!!
Posted by Notsonaive on May 15, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Page 256 of the Routley Report - City of Charleston Fire Inspection Report.....Inspection was conducted?
Posted by jifdeng3 on May 15, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I REST MY CASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by jerrytj on May 15, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THESE TYPE OF DANGEROUS PROBLEMS BE ALLOWED THE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS THERE IS!? WHY WHY WHY?I HATE TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY BUT THESE ARE ON THE VERGE OF CRIMINAL! I DON'T KNOW IF HE ASKED FOR THINGS AND WERE NOT GIVEN THEM OR EXACTALY WHY THESE FAILURES CAME TO BE, BUT TO PUT THE LIVES OF MEN IN HARMS WAY WHEN IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE SO, JUST DEFIES ALL RESONABLE EXPLANATION! GOD HELP THOSE WHOSE NEGLIENCE WERE TO BLAME FOR THIS TRAGIC STATE OF AFFAIRS! WHAT A SHAME THAT LIVES WERE LOST DUE TO POOR MANAGEMENT!
Posted by WardLaFrance on May 15, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Last September we had many discussions in these comment sections regarding the cause of the fire, the fire department policies, inadequate leadership and the need for education and equipment, as well as the need for a change of leadership. After reading the recent reports it seems that we were right. However I find no joy in being right, this time. Only an overwhelming sadness.
Posted by UpperSCFF on May 15, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Liveyourbestlife,
I'm going to show your post to my trial-lawyer friend who defends felony DUI's. Because, if they can compile a jury of people like you, a chronic alcoholic will walk away scott-free after killing 9 people in an SUV. Because, he didn't know any better.
I would suggest that you read The Report. If you still feel the same way afterwards, you have severe mental issues.
Posted by luvmydogs59 on May 15, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by WardLaFrance on May 15, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Last September we had many discussions in these comment sections regarding the cause of the fire, the fire department policies, inadequate leadership and the need for education and equipment, as well as the need for a change of leadership. After reading the recent reports it seems that we were right. However I find no joy in being right, this time. Only an overwhelming sadness.
I couldn't have said it any better myself. Violations by SSS and an antiquated fire department. A tragedy totally preventable!
Posted by gunnymorris on May 15, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least Rusty Thomas had the sense of decency to retire, what's Joe Riley's excuse? Joe Riley has no shame; Riley's incompetent "leadership" is responsible for this tragedy; it is time for Riley and his corrupt machine to retire and let a breath of fresh air into Charleston city politics.
My suggestion: rename Joe Riley Park (where the Riverdogs play) to "Firefighter Memorial Park".
Posted by vesta on May 15, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ward: What is equally sad is that a number of ffs in late June and early July (prior to the gag memo) told all of us exactly what happened, and specifically what was wrong with the CFD. The fear in their posts was more than evident. The fear that they might be the next fatality and not come home at the end of their shift. They begged for our help and they were silenced. Now, ten months later and $158,000 of tax payers money that could have gone to improvements in the CFD, we read this independent report which will be very much like the NIOSH report which didn't cost the tax payers $158,000. I, too am sad. I am sad that the morale of the CFD ffs has been shattered. I am sad that this has gone on for ten months and I am sickened that people in general didn't believe the CFD ffs. The mayor certainly didn't believe them.
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on May 15, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LiveYourBestLife said, "Remember at this time finger-pointing will not work..."
Actually, this is EXACTLY the time for it- why do you think this report was commissioned in the first place?? It’s a little something called ACCOUNTABILITY, and it’s a very important part of the LEARNING process. Those that don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. So you can go ahead and stick your head in the ground and accept that “another scene like this will probably happen again”, but I think the rest of us should do our best to make sure that this does NOT happen again.
And this accountability exercise shows some clear problems in leadership in the form of gross negligence. Here’s how I score it:
- The predominant factor identified in the analysis of Fire Department operations is the failure to manage the incident according to accepted practices.
Responsibility: THOMAS
- There was no structured incident command system in place and the essential duties of an Incident Commander were not performed.
Responsibility: THOMAS
- The operation was conducted in an unstructured and uncoordinated manner, without overall direction and with inadequate supervision.
Responsibility: THOMAS
- The Charleston Fire Department was inadequately staffed
Responsibility: THOMAS/RILEY (hiring/funding)
- inadequately trained
Responsibility: THOMAS/RILEY (funding)
- insufficiently equipped
Responsibility: THOMAS/RILEY (funding)
- organizationally unprepared to conduct an operation of this complexity in a large commercial occupancy
Responsibility: THOMAS
I don’t believe that Randy Thomas or Joe Riley are evil people, but by not doing their jobs properly nine people died. Thomas should have gone to bat to make sure his department had the funding and training they need to ensure that this accident wouldn’t happen. Riley 1) hired Thomas, 2) kept him in this job, 3) didn’t push him hard enough with the right questions to make sure he was doing his job properly and 4) didn’t give CFD the funding it so obviously needed.
So yes, those “nine men lost their lives doing what they wanted to do” as a profession, but I highly doubt they wanted to run into a burning building severely under-trained, lacking the proper equipment and devoid of leadership.
Posted by Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better on May 15, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And to the "goosecreekgurl" that compared this unfortunate incident to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, you are a moron and your Internet privileges should be immediately revoked. Please, step away from the keyboard before you hurt yourself or someone else.
I guess that’s what I get for reading the post of someone that can’t even spell “girl”.
Posted by burton on May 15, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Chief "Peter Principle" Thomas was in the military he would be investigated under an Article 32 Hearing (military grand jury), and the case would then be submitted for court martial. Not only him, but many in his chain-of-command.
Even if it didn't go to court martial, he would have been relieved of command. This is what a good mayor would have done instead of insulting the family members of the nine brave men that died by repeatedly stating what an outstanding chief he was--well, at least some family members because there are some who still support the chief.
But don't you worry...the lawsuits are about to come! Taxpayers of Charleston, get ready to foot the bill!!!
Posted by moonpie on May 15, 2008 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow now we really know... I see why he retired so soon. Someone had to be Joes scape goat.
Posted by WardLaFrance on May 15, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's another question- is CFD still Class 1? What does ISO have to say about their Class 1 Fire Department?
Posted by aquaticorange on May 16, 2008 at 3:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
vesta, you're my hero.
Posted by lefrance2 on May 18, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THE CITY TURNS IN A YEARLY BUDGET ,SO IF THE GEAR IS OBSOLETE,HOSE,COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT,TRAINING,AND WATER SUPPLY,THEN WHERE IS THE MONEY THE DEPARTMENT HAD BUDGETED.MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD START CHECKING THE POCKETS OF OFFICIALS FOR THE CITY.AND ON THE CHIEF THOMAS ISSUE,I DON'T THINK HE KNOWINGLY SENT OUR BROTHERS TO THEIR FATE,BUT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT FIRE BEHAVIOR YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE TO BEGIN WITH.(KNOCKING ALL THE WINDOWS OUT IN THE FRONT OF THE STORE WHEN YOU HAVE CREWS INSIDE)I MEAN HE MIGHT AS WELL OPENED SOME OXYGEN BOTTLES AND THREW THEM IN THE BUILDING. BUT WE ALL KNOW ARE BROTHERS ARE IN A BETTER PLACE AND THERE IS NO MORE SUFFERING!