Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 2, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chief Thomas, you had 15 years to make these changes, why did it take nine men dieing for you to see that change was needed? Why do you continue to socially promote those who are too incompetent to pass your new testing policies which will start in April? Why do you continue to lie to your men if you have nothing to hide? How can you expect to lead an incident command structure when you yourself have made no effort to learn it? How about educating yourself at the national fire academy? Are are you afraid you can not pass the course?

The truth is hard to swallow! Are you prepaired for the truth that will come out in the near future? When the smoke has cleared from the fire that is being prepared for you of the fact that you and you alone are the reason these nine men died, will you still hold fast to your good old boy ways? Are you prepaired to face this like a man or will you continue to hold to the responce you would not change a thing about how you let nine men die?

Posted by BobH1962 on March 2, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another example of the "Good Old Boy" politics. To allow 9 men to die in the line of duty due to outdated, inefficient equipment and the lack of proper on scene management is unacceptable. To not allow change or the desire to keep up with the latest technology (which is designed to save lives) shows blatent ignorance. As Fire Chief you and you alone should be held accountable and as far as the Mayor supporting you, more "Good Old Boy" politics.

Posted by COFC2007 on March 2, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If my fire department was a mess me personally i would resign and do the honorable thing. Not this guy Rusty Thomas. The Fire Department is a like his royal fiefdom.

Posted by moonpie on March 2, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"will not leave here until I make sure that the changes are done and they are done the right way"

WELL IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE FORCED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES AFTER 9 MEN DIED SIR?

Posted by Perspective on March 2, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think Rusty Thomas promotes himself in a likeable manner and he seems like a nice guy (I do not know him).

HOWEVER, Two heads of the Highway Patrol were basically FIRED (forced to resign) because of what their subordinates said (used the N word three years ago) and were not punished as harshly as some would have liked. How can nine people DIE and report after report blame poor management without heads at the top rolling?

How can CFP be admittedly soooo far behind the times and leadership not be held accountable for it?

You guys are blaming Thomas for staying. Heck, I wouldn't quit either. You should be blaming whoever is letting him keep his job. I don't know the food chain, but it has to be City Council or the Mayor - go after them if you vote in Charleston.

It seems that if you are near the top of the food chain in Charleston City you have good job security (ie Greenberg and Thomas).

Posted by oldglory on March 2, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder how Rusty Thomas' firefighters bring themselves to work under him now. Were I in their shoes, I'd be afraid to abide by his practices. It doesn't appear possible to me that Mr. Thomas can still command the respect and loyalty of his remaining men after losing so many, knowing full well that he refused to update his practices over the years.

'"I will not leave here until I make sure that the changes are done and they are done the right way," he said.'" He sounds as though he's competing in a test of physical exercise in the gym. Mr. Thomas, the 'test' is over, and you failed miserably by refusing to 'change the basic practices' while you could. There are some actions that we take in life that just shouldn't/don't get a second chance. This is one. The honorable, responsible, mature thing to do would be to step down from your position.

Posted by ColdBeer on March 2, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rusty Thomas, as a leader and manager, is a joke. He's led the department for 15 years and look at the shape it is in. He is personally responsible for the deaths of 9 firemen. I hope he lives that in his mind on a daily basis. I doubt he does. I don't think he's intelligent enough to understand what his lack of abilities has done. He is, after all, only a puppet of the mayor.

Posted by Wilmot on March 2, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shame on you Rusty for turning yesterday's baseball game into you and your son's personal little fanfair event. These events that recognize the fallen 9 and the CFD are not about you. It's time for you to stay away from these events and let some of the members of the CFD accept praise and memorials for their fallen brothers. You have no shame do you? You disgust me.

Posted by ChrisPia on March 2, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Perspective- i Believe One is a state agency where the Governor is in Charge. The Other is a City agency...Where mayor Riley is in Charge.

Posted by SCgal on March 2, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He may just surprise you all and be able to get everything that is needed to run a top notch operation~ and in the end have one of the finest departments across the U.S.!!

Posted by jammer on March 2, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad I moved out of Chas... Riley sticks by his men right or wrong no matter what the cost to the people or his reputation

I think the only one I can remember he didn't stick by was moloney<sp>, but that was because he personally took money out of Riley's pocket

Posted by bootlicked on March 2, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hopefully he'll have a heart attack from all of the stress. It sounds cold but the men of the Dept. deserve to have different leadership one way or another. You are spitting in the faces of the nine Rusty.

Posted by Perspective on March 2, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes he might surprise us, but does that matter when you are at the helm when 9 people due (reportedly) to your mismanagement. When the final reports come back - he should be removed if it was due to his failures as a leader - even if the department is now on the right track.

ps: a cap should be placed on the amount of blood money the families of the fallen 9 can get. I feel for their losses but, greed is an ugly thing

Posted by jameschucktown on March 2, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Most of you are so blinded by your dislike of Mayor Riley that you cannot see the facts: the CFD is a great department that is being improved. The Mayor and Chief have stepped up to the challenge and honor those who died by making the improvements. With comments like "hopefully he will have a heart attack" says it all: bootlicked, you are a worm and hide behind a fake name to write ridiculous things. And Parrotta runs an organization that the Secretary of State lists the the worst non-profit in the SC for the cost of raising money that is applied to the organization's programs--something like 6% ends up in "programs". Why would anybody care what that crook says?

Posted by frenchsmom on March 2, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It has amazed me how people have developed such tunnel vision in this tradgedy. The fire dept has been under scrutiny since the beggining but the business owner has not been forced to take responsibily for anything. They get commended when a change is made and even have fines reduced. Yet CFD is still damned no matter what they do. I know that every man has a different opinion but all I have to go on is what my son shared with me and it was never anything negative, about the dept or the chief. I am thrilled that changes have been made within the dept. I do not agree that the chief's leadership is a hinderance. I don't know the thoughts of each of the nine but for some it would be a spit in the face to "railroad" the chief and place all the blame on him. What was the incident commander doing until the chief could get there? We haven't heard anything about any role in this except the chief.

Posted by burton on March 2, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You voted King Riley back in office for the 100th time so now live with him and his decrees. Continue to kiss his Citadel ring. As for Chief Thomas, look up the Peter Principle and you will see his face. If he was a commander in the military, he would have been fired long time ago. Sad! I feel for the families of the Charleston Nine that have to put up with this farce.

Posted by mysticlady on March 2, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SURVEY TAKEN AMOUNG THE FIREMEN ABOUT RUSTY THOMAS. IF THERE WAS YOU WOULD SEE THAT THOMAS SENT THEM INTO PLACES THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE GONE IN. PLACES THAT WERE NOT SAFE. HE JUST HAPPENED TO GET BY WITH IT UNTIL THE SOFA SUPER STORE. THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY PLACE HE SENT THEM IN THAT WAS NOT SAFE TO GO IN. THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO WHEN HE SAYS GO! MOST OF THE FIREMEN HAVE NO RESPECT FOR HIM AND SAY HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Posted by carolinapanther on March 2, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bootlicked, you showed by your comments that you have no class, you should be ashamed not Rusty. Chief Thomas is a fine man that would never make comments like you just made. That is why he is the chief and you are hiding behind a screen name making comments that makes you sound like a sick moron!

Posted by Pluffmuddy on March 2, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mysticlady, everyone knows that what you suggest is true... Unfortunately, the gears of Charleston's government engine are too tightly enmeshed to allow a wrench to be thrown into the works. arrrrrggggghhh...looks like more rough going for those poor saps who have to call him Chief. Maybe if the union (who I marginally respect in this case) were to call for a mass walkout, that would get some attention. In the meantime, Ignorance parading as Authority, is in charge...and we all know it! Do you remember reading "The Emporer's New Clothes"?

Posted by carolinapanther on March 2, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Chief Thomas is not going anywhere just like he said! everyone that is trying to get rid of him needs to give up because you are fighting a losing battle!

Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 2, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll hold you to that statement when the time comes! Give up you say? Not on your life! Oh! that's right I guess nine men's lives are not enough for you! Keep him then and let him kill some more you say! How ignorant are you? Never mind your statement are proof of that! Only losers hang on to team when they have a loosing season, so I assume you have picked the Chief's team in this situation just as you picked your name.

Posted by carolinapanther on March 2, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Its called loyalty something you know nothing about! Envy is sad thing! Police officer die every day and they dont blame it on their chief. It just so happens that its a dangerous job and you should of known that when you got into the profession, that there is a chance that you might lose you life. All the education in the world could not of saved those 9 men!

Posted by JohnS on March 2, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The men's deaths is not the fault of the Chief. Firefighting is dangerous work no matter how many regulations and safety devices you have in place.

Posted by CFDCapt on March 2, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They say that Champions are not made in the ring, just recognized there. They do their work weeks & months before the fight. Chief Thomas had 15 years to prepare for his fight. Of the nine, I knew Micheal the least, but I talked to him every chance I got and he seemed very nice. I have 20 years in the fire dept and I tell you that those men didn't have to die. The command staff is who this rest with. I will also say this that they are so arrogant that they have said on more than one occasion that all this training would have changed nothing that happened on 6.18.07 & this has been said by more than one chief. We have been an Island unto our self for years, not associating with other professional fire chiefs, not belonging to professional organizations that disseminates information about fires and injuries that could occur. Our command staff did none of this!

Posted by FamilyThatKnowsTheTruth on March 2, 2008 at 11:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to throw my two cents in on this article and the comments. First of all, I am Randy Hutchinson. I respect everyones right to state their opinion. Most of the posts are from blogger names which restricts your credibility.

First of all, I would like to entend my sympathies to Michael French's mother and his whole family. I would like to do the same to the other (7) families that also share a common thread with our family in this tragic loss.

This loss was senseless and should have never occurred. Firefighting is dangerous like many other professions are. There are basic standards that should be followed to limit the dangers. When the true facts are finally released and reviewed, it will be very easy to understand how this should never happened. Yes, there are other factors, but the whole concept of accountability and command starts at the top.

The city wants people to think that they and Rusty are also victims. That is far from the truth. The victims are the nine men lost and a host of other victims in secession. Now the spin is that they are getting the men up to par. We know the real deal, when is the city going to do the right thing? Many of you are going to be surprised what has been hidden from you since June 18th. The spin will soon be spun out and reality will set in. Just my opinion of how we all got here on this blog.

Posted by THISMUSTSTOP on March 3, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So the Fire Chief is a victim too? Wow, there's a concept. Let us all feel sorry for the poor guy that brought the fire department backwards to the 1950's. The fire service leaders in this country have known about this type of building for years. Chief Thomas says that these new things work! Well that's cool, but they're not new. Had he been attending the training at the S.C. Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy, he would have already known this.
Police officers die and no one blames the Chief? You're probably right, but that's because the Chiefs tactics didn't get the police officer killed. Most likely it was a criminal that killed them, right? Many say the same thing about who killed these 9 (nine) firefighters. A CRIMINAL!

ChiefMO

Posted by jammer on March 3, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Posted by burton (anonymous) on March 2, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If he was a commander in the military, he would have been fired long time ago. Sad! I feel for the families of the Charleston Nine that have to put up with this farce."

if his squad was recklessly ordered into a fire fight in the military you could pretty much bet that there would be one less squad leader before the end of the day... how do they say that? friendly fire? nothing friendly about that...

the need to fire him wouldn't exist

Rusty won't leave, he doesn't have the integrity to leave and from what others say he doesn't have the experience to get another job... so he's there for life

if he ever gains a conscious you'll read about him in the paper one day - chief commits suicide, three shots to the back of the head

Posted by bootlicked on March 3, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Use your name. Most all of the CFD knows who I am. Moron? NO class?

Posted by Substrate on March 3, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is not about if I support or if I am against Rusty Thomas. This is about the nine lives that were lost on that day that had been predicted long before it happened.

There had been several dozens of fires prior to the SSS that his department while responding mutual aid with my department showed no regard for the OSHA Mandated "2 in 2 out" procedure that shall be followed or the simple Incident Command System that promotes organization and accountability during an emergency.

This created stress and confusion on our scenes due to the chaos created by individuals charging into the scenes without regard to tactics and safety.

This tragedy was predicted years before it happened because in a response to questioning about tactics and what is procedure for his department he stated to another local Chief that is retired now and moved from the area the following quotes. They will forever be the reason I will not accept that this could not have been prevented.

1. My men know if I show up at a fire and they are outside then they are going to get transferred to less active fire houses (West Ashley, Daniel Island, Johns Island)
(an accompanying Command Officer of the Car 2 level stated if they are not in there then I'm in trouble)

2. I will never comply with 2 in 2 out we've got to go in and get it.

3. We don’t need that big hose

We walked away from that meeting that day saying to each other they just don't get it and one day they will bury somebody.

Now all of a sudden this is good stuff! You know the only thing that has changed since that meeting several years ago and now?

I have lost nine friends, firefighters, fathers, coworkers, comrades, or however I have to reference them for you to understand they had a purpose in life and it was not to die due to their employer ignoring Federal Guidelines for 11 years. 2 in 2 out was mandated in 1996 and has been ignored until nine men paid the price.

This falls in the lap of JOE RILEY, he has the ultimate responsibility to insure the safety of the City employees. Nixon did not break into Watergate but it happened on his watch.

Posted by THISMUSTSTOP on March 4, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Substrate - Nobody cares! Your comment is too logical for the voting public. And if the voting public doesn't care then neither does Riley. It's really up to the paper and the local media to educate the people, but I guess that doesn't sell papers.

Posted by justintime on March 4, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dig deeper on Mr. Thomas...
Not only did his lack of providing proper safety, equipment and training lead to nine men under his command dying, he is currently involved in a lawsuit allowing a sexual predator to continue teaching at James Island Charter High School where he serves as president over their Charter School Board... I don't get it!