Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

CRider · 06-19-2007, 09:25 AM

Hey guys, if you can, I'd appreciate a small favor. If you could spare a few moments today to send some positive thoughts towards Charlotte, SC...it'd really mean a lot to me. These guys gave their lives doing a job they love. I shed a few tears this morning when I saw the footage on the news. Thanks...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,284232,00.html

Blaze at Furniture Warehouse in Charleston Kills 9 Firefighters

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Fire swept through a furniture warehouse, collapsing the building's roof and claiming the lives of nine firefighters in a disaster the mayor described Tuesday as "difficult to fathom or quantify."

"Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties," Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference. "To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."

Two employees in the building were rescued from the blaze, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Monday in the Sofa Super Store and warehouse, Riley said.

Overnight, firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers saluted as the bodies were carried from the warehouse.

"To lose nine is just a tragedy of immense proportions," Riley said. "To lose nine is just unbelievable."

Riley said the county coroner planned to disclose the names of the dead. The cause of the fire was under investigation, but Riley said arson was not suspected.

Witnesses said the store's roof collapsed, throwing debris over about two-dozen rescue workers. Onlookers were hit with flying ash.

"It was like a 30-foot tornado of flames," said Mark Hilton, who was struck in his eye.

Daniel Shahid, a salesman at a nearby car dealership, said firefighters came in asking for towels.

"The next thing you know, we were carrying hoses, directing traffic, everybody from the dealership," he said.

Shahid said he saw firefighters rescue four people from the building.

"They were struggling. They were covered in black soot. They looked scared out of their minds," Shahid said.

He later said the roof collapsed too quickly for anyone to escape.

"It came from nowhere," he said. "It was a standing structure and five seconds later it was on the ground."

Riley called the firefighters heroes.

"This is a profession that we must never take for granted," the mayor said. "There's a fire raging and they go toward it."

stanthetaxman · 06-19-2007, 09:32 AM

Prayers up, brother.

thehat101 · 06-19-2007, 12:09 PM

My Dad was a fireman here is Cincinnati. Prayers !!!!!!!!!!!!

06-19-2007, 03:23 PM

God be with them. It must be a great duty to go where no one else would dare go. Hats off to you my man.

CRider · 06-19-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmondp

God be with them. It must be a great duty to go where no one else would dare go. Hats off to you my man.

Buddy of mine has a shirt that says something to the affect of "Firefighters are nuts, they're the only ones running into a building that everyone else is running out of". While I suppose that's maybe a lil true (I'll never say I'm sane LOL), it's more of a combination of calculated risk based on training mixed with concern for other people. It's certainly not for everybody...but I've found that I like it, and I'm at least somewhat good at it within my limited experience. I'd like to think that if I were in the same situation as these brave men that I'd do the same thing...but I don't think that's something that anyone can truly know until they're in that situation. I'd imagine they went in not out of some perceived sense of honor or glory, but more for their love of their fellow-man, their love for each other as brothers, and a love of the job they do. To me, there's a difference. That's about the best way I can put it into words I suppose...