Charleston Fire to initiate 24-hour watch inside Charleston 9 Memorial Park

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston Fire Department will begin its 24-hour watch at the site of the deadly June 18, 2007, Sofa Super Store fire early Wednesday morning.

Every year, fire personnel stand watch at the flagpole inside the Charleston 9 Memorial Park as part of the department’s commemoration. The watch begins at midnight and continues for 24 hours.

A ceremony marking 18 years since the tragedy will be held Wednesday evening at the park, which is located on the grounds where nine of Charleston’s bravest were lost during the massive fire at the furniture store and warehouse.

Charleston Fire officials said the ceremony is open to the community and members of the fire service. There is limited seating, and priority is given to families of the fallen and members of the Charleston Fire Department.

Parking will be limited around the park, and carpooling is encouraged. Space will not be available at the memorial’s parking lot. There is limited parking available at the vacant lot off Wappoo Road near the West Ashley bikeway.

Those who cannot attend the event can watch a livestream on the Charleston Fire Department’s Facebook page.

Fire crews responded to the West Ashley furniture store on the evening of June 18, 2007, when they received a call that an employee was trapped inside the highly combustible business.

The employee was saved roughly 30 minutes later; however, nine of Charleston’s bravest were lost after the fire further erupted and the building’s front showroom collapsed.

Those lost included Firefighter Brandon Thompson, Engineer Brad Baity, Captain Louis Mulkey, Engineer Mark Kelsey, Captain Mike Benke, Captain William Hutchinson, Firefighter Melvin Champaign, Assistant Engineer Michael French, and Firefighter Earl Drayton.

It was later determined through an investigation that the fire originated in a pile of trash where employees often took smoking breaks in a covered loading dock area between the showroom and warehouse buildings.