11 Years ago today.
There are so many lessons learned from CHARLESTON, SC–on June 18, 2007-where 9 Charleston Firefighters were killed at the infamous Sofa Super Store Fire. They are Captain Louis Mulkey, Captain Mike Benke, FF Melvin Champaign, Captain Billy Hutchingson, Engineer Brad Baity, FF Earl Drayton, Engineer Mark Kelsey, Engineer Michael French, and FF Brandon Thompson.
In both good and not so good ways, some of the best learning that can be done is from those who have experienced and survived the worst. Specifically, to truly understand what the Charleston (S.C.) Firefighters went through on, after and since June 18, 2007 when they
lost 9 Firefighters in the Line of Duty….one would have to be a CFD Firefighter.
There is one video that is essential for every one of us to watch. New firefighters, old firefighters, fire officers, fire chiefs-everyone. The CFD members have horrifically “been
there and done that” …from the fire, to the lessons learned …to the total transformation of the CFD in honor of those 9 Firefighters….this video outlines where they have been, what happened, and what they have done about it. You will hear first hand from those who were there-as well as from those that have arrived since that fire-all to honor the Charleston 9.
WATCH The Video:
RELATED RESOURCES
-IN DEPTH VIDEO WITH NARRATION FROM NIST & IAFF:
(Perfect for company in quarters training)
-INITIAL PHONE CALLS:
-INITIAL RADIO TRAFFIC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=begOYKprFeU
-VIDEO FROM SCENE:
-DETAILS: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/library/research/topics/top_charlestonsofa.html
-NIOSH REPORT: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200718.html
-3 MINUTE QUICK REVIEW VIDEO/AUDIO FROM THE SCENE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WieG_eKsJug
-CITY of CHARLESTON REPORT (The Routley Report) http://tinyurl.com/ornorq9
-SLIDE SHOW WITH NARRATION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba30HgUDD14
-WHERE THE CFD IS TODAY:
https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/firefighters-sacrifice-built-a-safer-charleston/article_c10776a0-70b1-11e8-a4f1-bb039b4f39a2.html
Lots to learn in honor of those Firefighters that were killed on this date, 2007.