The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. — At least four of the nine firefighters killed fighting a furniture store blaze four months ago were found trapped under the building's rafters, according to a report released Thursday by the coroner's office.

All nine of the Charleston firefighters were face down in the rubble of the store, their bodies so badly burned they could not be recognized by sight, according to a draft edition of the report released following a Freedom of Information Act request by The (Charleston) Post and Courier.

Some of the firefighters were quickly identified through name badges pinned to their clothing or their driver's licenses. But some had nearly no identifying personal items, including one victim who carried only two keys and several customer cards from grocery stores, according to a story about the report posted Thursday night on the newspaper's Web site.

The woman returning a message for the Charleston County Coroner's Office from The Associated Press said Thursday night the report could only be mailed or requested at the office during business hours.

The nine firefighters died June 18 while fighting a blaze at the Sofa Super Store. It was the single greatest loss of firefighters since the terror attacks on the World Trade Center.

Investigators have said the fire started on a covered loading dock, spreading into the main showroom through an open door where it quickly intensified, bringing down the roof.

Toxicology reports have found no signs of drugs or alcohol in any of the firefighters, Coroner Rae Wooten told The Post and Courier.

Protective equipment, like air tanks and masks were found near all nine firefighters and in some cases was badly damaged by the blaze, Wooten said.

The coroner said the equipment has been examined by experts, but said she could not discuss their findings until all investigations into the fire are complete.

Wooten told the newspaper her staff was called to the Sofa Super Store around 9:30 p.m. June 18, about two-and-a-half hours after the fire started. At that point, authorities only knew several firefighters were missing and families were gathering at a nearby station to find out what happened to their loved ones.

"Our goal was to get the families that information as quickly as possible," Wooten said.

The families gave information about tattoos, dental records, or other physical characteristics of the missing men, and they were all identified by the next day, Wooten said.