NINE firefighters die in S.C.

Excepting 9/11, I can't recall this many firefighters perishing on a call.

Am I off base?

What an awful way to go (at least physically).

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/charleston-fire/20070619012109990001

The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (June 19) -- Nine firefighters died in a blaze that swept through a furniture warehouse in a disaster the mayor described Tuesday as "difficult to fathom or quantify."

 

Jeebus that's awful.

I'm assuming the roof collapse is to blame for the deaths, although the story didn't say.

 

I know a former volunteer fireman in Charleston. He helped train one of the guys who died. He got a call from his mother this morning when she heard about the fire. First thing was to ask if he knew anyone. Then to tell him she was so happy he wasn't a fireman any more.

RIP to those who are gone and keep those left behind in your thoughts.

 

Six firefighters died in the Worcester (Mass.) warehouse fire in 1999 -- that's the last fire with multiple casualties that immediately comes to mind.

 

No, I imagine this must be among the worst incidents in modern history...

There were 106 firefighter fatalities in 2006, but 54 involved heart attacks or overexertion and 19 involved vehicle crashes. Five firefighters died from roof collapse.

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/txt/06-fatality-summary.txt

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

 

There have been multiple deaths several times in the recent past fighting wildfires in the west. I think at least nine at Glenwood Springs, Colo., in 1994, and four or five several years ago.

Big fire in Seattle several years ago killed four or five as well, I think. It's a dangerous job.

 

The picture linked in Simon's post pretty much sums it all up. If you're able to keep a dry eye, considering what happened, you're a stronger man than me.


RIP.

 

Wow, BG.

When I first posted that, that leadoff photo was not up yet.

Gut-wrenching imagery.

 

What a fucking day here.

Second bomb to fall

What's next? Do I dare look to the tropics?

 

Fortunately, if you can call it that given how awful this is, arson is not suspected in the Charleston fire.

 

That Ravenel story is a real doozie, Mustard, from what I've been hearing today. PM me if you want to know more.

But here's a funny little story: There were a lot of nervous people in the House and Senate early this afternoon when it was announced that an elected official was going to be indicted. Everyone exhaled when they found out it was Ravenel.