'Together we can get through this'Rachel Sheridan-Thompson had been due to marry one of the fallen firefighters, Brandon Thompson, on Oct. 7 last year.

'Much work to be done as we move forward'Roger Yow, president of the Charleston Firefighter's Association Local 61 and a former captain with 25 years of service in the department, was alerted to the fire about 40 minutes after the call first came in.

'I will never forget the Charleston nine'Furniture repairman Jonathan Tyrrell was rescued from the Sofa Super Store before its collapse took the lives of nine firefighters.
By Tom LaBelle
A year ago this week, I dedicated my column to the Charleston 9, as they became known. Clearly they had no desire to die that fateful day, nor a desire to leave a legacy. But that's what has occurred — and we are left to wonder how we deal with the tragedy. Full Column

By Jay Lowry
When a large fire took the lives of nine firefighters, it was not business as usual. I have devoted my time to writing and studying the fire service. But it in no way prepared me for the shock of losing nine firefighters from a department I loved and served on. Full Column
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There can be no greater way to commemorate the anniversary and honor the fallen than to learn from the tragedy of June 18, 2007 – and ensure it doesn't happen again. The following Routley Report was compiled in the wake of the tragedy. It outlines a host of issues and recommendations that can be taken on board by any department.
• Charleston Firefighter Fatality Investigative Report Phase I (PDF)• Charleston Firefighter Fatality Investigative Report Phase II (PDF) |
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• Charleston holds memorial for fallen firefighters • A day that changed Charleston • A Charleston trio's lifelong connection: Surviving horror • Charleston still raw a year after blaze • FR1 News Report: S.C. warehouse fire kills 9 firefighters |
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![]() Key Moments after Charleston Fire Major events in the 12 months since the fire. ![]() Nine Men, Nine Heroes Paying individual tribute to the nine firefighters. |

Investigative Report Phase I (PDF)





