What they said
Relatives of the fallen nine firefighters shared with Post and Courier reporters their impressions of the report:
"I don't have anything against them. I just wish they would apologize. Man up. Say I did it. I see people all the time smoking a cigarette, and they don't think twice about throwing the cigarette down. Basically, it was negligence they didn't think about."
— Jean Dangerfield, sister of firefighter Michael French, about whoever was smoking at the Sofa Super Store the day of the fire.
"I've never seen the city jump through such hoops to get things done. These fellas did a wonderful, wonderful job."
— Frank Thompson, firefighter Brandon Thompson's father, who praised the city for bringing in a group of professionals to assess the fire.
"The main thing that stuck with me is the fact they said the fire could have been prevented."
"I guess there is some satisfaction to knowing what happened. We don't have to worry about what we hear anymore. There's no more guessing."
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— Stephanie Thompson, Brandon Thompson's stepmother.
The report should trigger a pursuit of accountability, covering the department's ranks to within the highest levels of City Hall and any "council members who were left in the dark."
— Randy Hutchinson, a former Charleston firefighter who lost his brother, Capt. Billy Hutchinson.
"They should never have been in that building. They should have never died."
— Ann Mulkey, Capt. Louis Mulkey's mother.
"They died not really knowing why they were dying."
— Mike Mulkey, Capt. Louis Mulkey's father.
"I guess my heart's just breaking that Mark had to die needlessly. They were taking away the only thing I love. These guys were trained to save people's lives. To lose them needlessly and leave all these families without their loved ones, it's just not right. It's just not right."
— Christine Prevatte, engineer Mark Kelsey's companion. She broke down and cried when she heard of the report's conclusions.
"Right now, my heart is broke."
— Carl Champaign, firefighter Melvin Champaign's cousin.
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Comments
This article has 2 comment(s)
Posted by jkjb3 on May 16, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart goes out to all of the families still. So many lives forever changed. I have a picture on my desk of Louis and of my boys and husband, taken at the station just a couple of months before the fire. My boys had a blast! They are wearing Louis' fire gear, which is WAY too big on them, in the photo. It will forever be treasured. I have one in each of their rooms, too. They will never forget "Coach Mulkey", and we all will never forget all of them, nor the ones that continue to keep us safe. God bless!
Posted by Two_Sheds on May 16, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What makes me sick about this whole thing is the ADULT children & various other relatives who were NOT dependent on the firefighters' income who are trying to cash in on the "tragedy jackpot" to become independently wealthy.
When I donated money to the Charleston 9 fund, I did NOT donate with the intention of making the whole, extended family rich, only to help out the immediate dependents--widows and children. The rest of these money-grubbers make me SICK.