Garvin retires early on requestBy David Slade (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Post and Courier Larry Garvin Firefighter CoverageIn our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Larry Garvin, the initial scene commander at the Sofa Super Store blaze where nine firefighters perished, retired from the department Tuesday at the acting chief's request. "I lost nine of my good friends, and now I feel like I've lost the rest of my family," Garvin said. "I had really wanted to leave in March of next year," he said. "Chief (Ronnie) Classen asked me to go ahead and retire." Garvin and former Chief Rusty Thomas, who stepped down in June, have been criticized in reports examining what went wrong at the Sofa Super Store. One former city councilman, Henry Fishburne, called for Garvin to resign last year. Mayor Joe Riley said Garvin's resignation was unrelated to any criticism of his actions at the Sofa Super Store. "That had nothing to do with it," Riley said. Riley said he and Classen thought that, as the city searches for a new fire chief, it would help with recruiting to be clear that any new chief will get to choose the department's senior command staff. All three of the department's assistant chiefs are expected to step down, according to Mark Ruppel, public information officer for the Charleston Fire Department. Garvin was the second of the three to leave. "The city and the Fire Department are very appreciative of his 35 years of hard work and dedication," Ruppel said. Assistant Chief Eddie Bath retired three weeks ago, and Garvin retired Tuesday. Classen, who was the other assistant chief, is serving as interim fire chief and plans to retire after the new chief is announced, Ruppel said. Classen said battalion chiefs will fill in, as they do when assistant chiefs are on vacation. "By no means will this impede the day-to-day operations of the Fire Department," Ruppel said. A new fire chief has not yet been selected, and no announcement is expected until at least the end of September. Riley began reviewing the first batch of resumes on Friday. Garvin, a 35-year veteran, said he cries every day about the men who died in the Sofa Super Store fire. "I am sure there are people out there who blame me personally," he said Tuesday. "When I went in that building — and I went in three times — the flames were in the back, and you could have bought furniture in there," he said. "When things went bad, I was around back, and it all went bad very fast." The "phase two" report on the fire commissioned by the city said Garvin and Thomas failed to follow nationally recognized standards that call for commanders to stay put so they can monitor changing fire conditions and coordinate manpower and equipment. At the fire, Garvin had ordered two teams with hoses into the sofa showroom to fight what he thought was a small fire, then Garvin joined a group of St. Andrews firefighters in rescuing store employee Jonathan Tyrrell, who was trapped in a warehouse outbuilding that had filling with smoke. They hacked through a metal wall to save him, and when Garvin returned to the front of the fire scene, the sofa showroom had become an inferno. "It was just by the grace of God that I was not in there with them," he said. Tyrrell defended Garvin's actions after the city report was released in May. "I don't know about incident command and posts and 'this person was supposed to be here' or 'this person should have been there' — I don't know any of that," Tyrrell said. "But he wasn't leaving his post to go get a drink. He was going to help somebody." Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@post andcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by Perspective on July 23, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Mayor Joe Riley said Garvin's resignation was unrelated to any criticism of his actions at the Sofa Super Store. "That had nothing to do with it," Riley said. "
Does Riley think everyone is stupid? I will be glad when HE leaves.
Posted by eatmorecollards on July 23, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Routley report may have been a little self serving. A fire department is built from the bottom, not the top. A opertunity was missed when previous promotions were made under the existing culture. A new fire chief will be only that, a new fire chief, with a huge burden.
Posted by Tammie on July 23, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So when will ole bat ears retire early upon request?
Posted by grannyofsix on July 23, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good morning Tammie. So how many more scrape goats are going before the real one goes. Btw Tammie no baby girl her labor just stopped she will be induced tomorrow though
Posted by Early on July 23, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A bold face lie!
Posted by grannyofsix on July 23, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Early why dont you just tell us what you really feel. LOL!
Posted by jammer on July 23, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he did granny...
hopefully whenever the new chief comes in he'll completely change the command staff that's left and get these guys the long needed training/supplies they need
put everyone at the same rank and start over, interview and train as you would for a brand new town/city... those that are the most capable and exceed are promoted
those with the most experience under thomas should be put at the bottom and retrained
as far as riley is concerned, just ignore him like we had to do with greenberg until he finally left... he's a nobody anyway, a legend in his own mind soon to be forgotten if not for the SSS fire
Posted by summerville_guy on July 23, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know Mr. Garvin personally. Regardless of all of the accusations (whether true or not) that can be thrown his way, he has always been a good man to me and my family. I feel badly for him, because he truly had a passion for firefighting. I'm not going to debate whether he should have been forced to resign or not; I am merely speaking for his character. The sorrow he expresses in this article is certainly sincere. I wish the best for him and his wife.
Posted by Tammie on July 23, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Morning Granny! I hope everything goes well with her and the baby!! Congratulations!!!
Posted by PalmettoHawk on July 23, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One by one the good soldiers fall on their sword.
Yes, thank you Assistant Fire Chief Larry Garvin for your years of service to the City.
Unfortunately, one and all will be primarily remembered for the shortfall of training during a critical situation.
Vote "Anyone but Joe" during the next Mayoral election.
Posted by NIMS800Chief on July 23, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are most correct Jammer. The fire chief will need to build a solid command staff to set policies and training in place. Not to mention adopting a budget needed to maintain CFD to its best. BTW, a budget that is not cash cow but justified and priorotized for the operation of the organization. The new fire chief will not make quick knee jerk changes but will need to learn the entire organization as well as the community. It may take up to 6 months before a chief realizes the strengths and weaknesses of CFD. The ideal fire chief will go to each station, sit down with all firefighters and officers on all shifts and gather information. Getting to know the entire team from the most experienced to the newest rookie is vital and what are the problems needing fixed.
Jammer I disagree that all members need to be demoted. You lost me there. I met most of these folks and they know their profession real well and would be easy to redirect with safer policies. These are the very ones that demanded change in national standards anyway. Those that do not embrace cutting edge changes despite attempts to influence current cutting edge strategies will be reeducated or be demoted. I do not believe the whole organization is in need to "re-invent the wheel."
I met and spoke to Chief Garvin twice and see him as compassionate and a real professional. I felt his outward pain as he described the love for those 9 brave souls,their grieving families, and his love for the professionals who worked under his command.
I do not need to echo the Youtley report since it was spot on with what needs to be accomplished. CFD will definitely benefit to the positive. The report never impugned the heart and soul of any firefighter at CFD. The report focusses on command and flawed policies in need of improving albeit ever vastly.
As I have stated before, any fire service organization needs to maintain safety and maintain policies that will provide optimum protection of their assigned personnel. However, there is risk to fighting fires no matter the policy. We are at the mercy of risk and firefighters took the job full knowing that this may be a possibility. It is the job of fire chiefs and all firefighters to make sure that this risk is greatly reduced so everyone goes home after their shift.
God Bless to 9 brave souls who performed their jobs as ordered and gave the supreme sacrifice in the face of the beast. You are not forgotten!
Posted by Mal731 on July 23, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Apparently most of you have no faith anymore. As unfortunate as it is, these men were not suppose to come home that night. God had a plan for these men. Everyone is quick to judge in these types of situations. There is a very low lack of faith in the Lord in Charleston...which I thought was the "Holy City" but I guess that's out the window. In the Bible it says to not judge and for he who is without sin cast the first stone...These men had no intentions of hurting their brothers and neither did the Chief or assitant Chief. Mayor Riley is doing the best he can with this unfortunate situation. If you don't like him...why not leave and be happy somewhere else. I for one will remember these men as God intended on the world remembering them. God Bless all of you.
Posted by Mal731 on July 23, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice judgement Thomas...that's your opinion...So you have no sin though right???
Posted by a_set_love on July 23, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mal731 - "In the Bible it says to not judge and for he who is without sin cast the first stone..."
If you know how to read, read the passage again.
Mary was caught in the act of adultry. In those times, the punishment was death by stoneing. Those who had caught her in the act brought her to Jesus for judgement. The intent was to get Jesus to speek out against the Jewish faith. Jesus then said to the mob, "he who is without sin cast the first stone" to execute Mary.
After the mob had dispersed Jesus turned to Mary and told her he would not condem her either. Jesus then told her to go on her way and "STOP" sinning.
Jesus called it like it was. He didn't tell her what she did was okay and to carry on.
We are telling Mr. Riley he is an incompetant idiot, whose actions against the City of Charleston led to a situation that claimed the lives of Nine good firemen.
We demand he quit now so as not to hurt any other employees.
Posted by Mal731 on July 23, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
a set love...Thanks but I actually have taken several classes studying the Bible...did I ever say it was ok..I just said quit judging...find something constructive to do...
Posted by a_set_love on July 23, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The very best, constructive thing for us to do is get Mr. Riley out of the mayors office. We care about the safety of the citizens of the City of Charleston and those that work here, unlike Mr. Riley.
Though it seems, you don't care much for peoples safety. Just don't rock the boat and every thing will be okay.
Posted by Mal731 on July 23, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well we will have to agree to disagree. I am not defending anyone just saying to quit judging...
Posted by jammer on July 23, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mal the bible doesn't say to not judge, if you don't judge what and who other people are then you will fall prey to many... if you don't judge where the wall is you will run into it
Jesus simply meant for you not to condem, but everyone has to judge... how do you tell what is moral and what is not? by judging the actions of yourself and others
do you not point to someone doing the wrong thing and tell your children not to follow that path? that is judging...
is there not a Judge in every court?
we must judge Mal, unless you wish to walk around aimlessly into every pothole the earth provides
so many take that out of context to try to use it as an excuse, it doesn't wash so give it up...
and yes I'm judging you by your comments, that you have much to learn the hard way... it's much easier to judge where you're heading ahead of time than to wait until you've screwed up
Posted by Mal731 on July 23, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice talking with the good ole people of Charleston. God Bless you all.
Posted by jammer on July 23, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
he does everyday Mal...
Posted by Mal731 on July 24, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jesus is the only one who can judge...hope none of you every make a mistake cause the people of the "Holy City" WILL judge you