Up from the ashesThe Post and Courier
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Wade Spees Engineer Eric Croft shows the new individually fitted mask that goes with the air packs which are among the new equipment purchased by the Charleston Fire Department since the Sofa Super Store fire. The air packs include several advanced safety features, including individually fitted face masks, a tracking device and handles to help locate and rescue downed firefighters. The air packs also provide firefighters double the breathable air available with the department's old units. 
Alan Hawes Charleston firefighter Michael Sullivan pulls a five inch supply line off a fire truck while training on Daniel Island Wednesday. The hoses are twice as large as the ones the department uses now to carry water from hydrants to firefighter battling blazes. Video
Eight months after the Sofa Super Store fire, the Charleston Fire Department is undergoing an unprecedented and ambitious overhaul of its tactics and equipment. We take an exclusive look at some of the changes afoot at fire stations around the city. Watch » Firefighter CoverageIn our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.A van pulls up to Charleston Fire Department headquarters and empties a load of boxes in an open vehicle bay. They're shoved against a staircase for the time being. It's tough to keep up with all the deliveries these days. In another room, crews try on new state-of-the art air packs and test various heat-seeking cameras. Upstairs, a clutter of new boots, uniforms and other gear crowds the floor and chairs in the fire chief's office. Across town, firefighters vigorously train on larger diameter hose lines and inspect a newly arrived fire engine. It wasn't always this way. For years, many Charleston firefighters scoffed at the modern tools, safety-driven practices and nationally recognized methods used by other area departments. That all changed on June 18 when the department lost nine men in the Sofa Super Store fire. The city is now in the midst of an ambitious and unprecedented effort to transform its fire department from a hard-charging, tradition-bound force that brazenly did things its own way into a modern outfit that relies on the latest technology and places a premium on firefighters' lives. Confronted with some 200 recommendations from expert consultants brought in after the deaths, the fire department is attempting a top-to-bottom overhaul. If successful it will change everything from equipment and tactics to the brash culture the department has clung to for more than a century. "I'm glad to see the changes come," firefighter Mike Sullivan said, as he trains on the new hose lines. "It was needed, and everyone is really picking up on it." Buying "new toys," as some firefighters refer to the nearly $2 million worth of equipment purchases to date, is mostly a matter of money. City leaders have readily approved the expenditures, which required the city's first property tax increase since 1999. Changing an entrenched culture, however, might be the more challenging task, and its success will be harder to gauge. The task would be daunting at any time. But it is particularly difficult amid the raw emotions, soul-searching and scrutiny that have followed the deadly blaze. While trying to grieve and push forward, the department has weathered criticism of its methods, calls for the chief's resignation and accusations that commanders knowingly sent men into harm's way. Today, Thomas and his commanders speak excitedly about the changes taking place and pledge to make the fire department a national model for the fire service. "I'm fired up about it," Thomas said. "I see that it works." Reactions among the rank-and-file are mixed. Some firefighters are still fond of the old ways, or worry that change is occurring too quickly, on too many fronts. Others say changes are long overdue and aren't occurring fast enough. Most agree, however, that like it or not change is here, and more is on the way. Capt. Bubba Bazemore is a 20-year veteran of the fire department. He said adjusting to so many new approaches is overwhelming at times. But Bazemore believes he owes it to the fallen to embrace the department's new ways. "Change is good. It's something we should have learned a long time ago," he said. "It's sad it took nine people's lives to put us in that direction." Gordon Routley, head of the expert panel that developed the recommendations, said the department deserves credit for meeting the challenge head-on at a time when its every move is scrutinized and dissected by a national audience clamoring for rapid change. "I think they are making a tremendous effort and doing as much as fast as they can," he said. "It may seem slow to people who are watching from the sidelines. But I'm impressed with how quickly some of these things are happening." Before June 18, few had reason to criticize the Charleston Fire Department. For centuries, its firefighters aggressively protected their city — its buildings, its history, its people. When others approached dangerous fires with caution, Charleston charged the flames. In the process, they protected property, saved lives and earned praise from a grateful public. But those time-honored methods came under scrutiny after the sofa store fire. Under a national spotlight, the department's old ways and safety-be-damned mentality suddenly seemed out of place. Even the folksy Southern charm and quaint station houses could not hold back a rising tide of tough questions. A chorus of critics found fault with everything the department did. The character of the old equipment lost its charm. Now, it was just dangerous. The aggressive tactics that had saved so many buildings and lives now seemed reckless. The nine deaths could not go unanswered. While Mayor Joe Riley steadfastly defended the fire department as being top-notch, he also pledged to take a hard look at the organization to make something good come of the tragedy. Nothing would be off limits, he vowed. Everything would be reviewed, changed, updated, replaced or retired. The results of this effort now play out at fire stations around the city. Many changes are easy to see: new air packs, uniforms, thermal-imaging cameras, boots, fitted masks, firefighting manuals — even a shiny new fire engine with the latest features. Thousands of feet of new hose line is on the way, along with better protective gear and a couple of dozen new recruits. Many firefighters seem excited about the city's investments in their profession. On a recent afternoon, Capt. Jimmy Neilson strapped on a new air tank that nearly doubles his oxygen supply. He showed off its tracking device and other safety features designed to help others rescue him should he run into trouble battling a blaze. "It's the Cadillac of air packs," Neilson said approvingly. Roger Yow, head of the local union representing about half of the city's firefighters, said the outlay for equipment is long overdue, but some see the effort as hollow window dressing. He said the city is merely showing off shiny new gadgets in an attempt to blunt the sting of an upcoming report on what went wrong at the sofa store fire. "The guys are excited about getting new equipment — and they should be — but there are so many things still wrong with the fire department that have nothing to do with equipment," Yow said. "The culture hasn't changed at all." Some fire experts say it could take years to change the department's attitudes, instill a culture of safety and reverse a tradition that encourages and rewards those who take risks. Some city firefighters struggle with the notion of pulling back and evaluating hazards while a building burns. Others question whether this cultural change can be brought about by the same leaders who spent years reinforcing the old attitudes that got them to this point. Thomas has repeatedly defended the department's tactics at the sofa store fire and maintained that nothing could have been done differently to prevent the loss of the nine firefighters. "How does he go about changing the culture when he doesn't think we did anything wrong?" Capt. Jamie Greene, a 20-year veteran, said. "If none of these things would have mattered, then why are we doing them?" Thomas and his commanders, however, insist safety is a top priority. The department has adopted a strict incident command system to manage fire scenes and keep better track of firefighters' duties and whereabouts. There is a thick notebook full of new policies and procedures aimed at enhancing safety, including an innovative directive that bars firefighters from entering burning buildings similar to the sofa store that have potentially dangerous steel truss roofs or floors. They have set in motion a rigorous training schedule to teach and reinforce lessons in firefighter rescue, hazardous material response, large hose line use and other topics. And commanders now critique the handling of fire scenes so lessons can be shared throughout the department, fire officials say. All the while, reminders of the June tragedy are everywhere: on stickers, posters, plaques, pins and other memorial items adorning station walls, fire trucks and the uniforms the men wear. Engineer Legrand Thomas, stationed with Ladder 1 on Daniel Island, said the lessons of the sofa store fire can't be escaped. "It's something that will never leave us," he said. "I think it's got most of the guys in touch with the reality that you might not come home, and that's a real tough thing. ... The most important thing is going home." Area fire departments also notice a change. Charleston, once seen as arrogant and standoffish, is reaching out, training with other departments, sharing information and working more calls with other agencies. "They have changed their approach," Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Herb Williams said. "The people I talk to, from Chief Thomas on down, they realize they are not in this by themselves, and that we do have things we can learn from each other." Charleston fire officials also have formed committees to address long-standing complaints that Thomas and a close circle of commanders made key decisions without input from firefighters. The new committees give firefighters more say in decisions regarding training, equipment and tactics. Thomas, who used to handle all hiring and promotions himself, now looks to employee committees to rate and recommend candidates from whom he can choose. Thomas said the process takes some getting used to, and he concedes that he doesn't always agree with the committees' choices. "I saw two (job candidates) this time that I don't know if I would have hired. It's different. What it said is we are trying to get more people involved." Some firefighters remain skeptical that Thomas will truly cede any power to his underlings and abandon a good-old-boy network that has existed in the department for generations. Yow said firefighters already are grumbling that Thomas tossed aside a committee recommendation on the style of uniform the men should wear and he hasn't agreed to a change in ladder-raising techniques that would mirror national standards. Some also question Thomas's decision to shift the department's longtime training officer into a frontline battalion chief position for which others are more qualified, he said. Thomas said that involving others in the decision-making process doesn't mean he will always agree with them or give them everything they want. His supporters say critics are just trying to stir up trouble because they want to see him gone. "There will always be people with their own agenda willing to criticize anything," Mark Ruppel, the fire department's public information officer, said. "But to deny the many enhancements we have made in the months since June is to deny reality." Thomas and Riley urge people to be patient, saying the department is moving as quickly as it can to enact change. They want to make sure they are thorough and that firefighters are properly trained to work with whatever policy or piece of equipment they are presented with before putting them into practice at fire scenes. Additional storyThomas said the larger hose lines are a good example. The city long relied on supply hoses about half the diameter of those used by most fire departments around the country. Many firefighters say they lacked enough water to battle the sofa store blaze, in part, because these supply hoses were too small to do the job. The city expects to receive the new, larger lines in the coming days, but Thomas wants to make sure his firefighters are well-versed in using the heavier, more unwieldy hoses before employing them in an actual emergency. It would be risky to do otherwise, he said. For now, firefighters are training with hose lines borrowed from other area departments. As he awaits his turn at this training on a recent morning, Engineer Thomas just hopes for a day when all the criticism and debate ceases. "We had a tragedy, we're learning from it and making changes. We're not going to forget it. But I don't think the public should hold it over the fire department's head forever," he said. "I don't believe a true firemen in this city would have done anything differently that day. If I had been on the first truck in, someone would probably have been writing about me too. That's what we do." Steps forward Eights months after the Sofa Super Store fire and five months since a panel of experts issued recommendations, the Charleston Fire Department has: --Adopted a strict incident command system to manage fire scenes and keep better track of firefighters' duties and whereabouts. --Formed employee committees to give firefighters more say in decisions regarding training, equipment, tactics, hiring and promotion. --Begun testing thermal imaging cameras that locate hidden flames to see which models best suit the department. --Adopted a host of new policies and procedures aimed at making safety a priority, including a novel directive that bars firefighters from battling flames in buildings similar to the sofa store that have potentially dangerous steel truss roofs and floors. --Adopted an intensive training schedule to school officers in the latest techniques for using large hose, performing rescues and accomplishing other tasks. --Hired half of the 24 new firefighters needed to increase minimum staffing on each truck to four people, a goal that is projected to be accomplished by year's end. --Begun training with other fire departments in the region to increase cooperation and share practices and resources. --Instituted "Chief's Night-In" program, where Chief Rusty Thomas will answer questions from the public about the fire department. Purchases made The fire department also has made, or expects to make, the following equipment purchases: Personal protective equipment $506,000 (estimate) Self-contained breathing apparatus $808,196 Rapid intervention team kits $3,773 Uniforms $174,112 Fire engine modifications $17,222 Additional engine modifications (for previously ordered pumper) $8,829 5-inch supply hoses $150,001 Hose fittings and hydrant valves $80,125 Highway safety vests $6,718 Lapel microphones and radio straps $7,538 Flashlights $5,023 Vehicles (purchased through lease purchase over 4 years) $164,500 Radios, lights & sirens for new vehicles $26,497 Firefighting, hazardous materials and first responders manuals $1,080 TOTAL $1,959,614 Note: Local businessman Gene Reed donated $228,000 to help pay for the uniforms and protective clothing. Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com. Reach Ron Menchaca at 937-5724 or rmenchaca@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by Harpo on March 2, 2008 at 1:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas should never have been allowed to remain in that job
after his gross mismanagement of the fire department. Riley
should also be booted out. The changes were rammed down
their throats; they didn't want to improve any part of the
department before the loss of the nine.
Shame, Charleston, for what it took to bring all this about.
Shame, Charleston, for allowing this man to keep his job.
Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 2, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article was release to soften the blow that is about to occur! The truth will be self evident! Nine men died because one man refused to educate himself in fire fighting tactics. No education! In this day and time no one is allowed to run a fire department with out an education! Why should Chief Thomas be an exception? The citizens of Charleston are in great danger if his good old boy policy of his is allowed to continue. The culture has not changed in the CFD and will not as long as Chief Thomas is allowed to hold the position of Chief. Unless someone with the proper education and experience is brought in, nothing will change.
Safety first! That is a joke to Chief Thomas! Last week the safety committee approached the Chief as to raising the 35 foot ladder with 3 men, as required by NFPA, and they where told he still wanted it to be raised with 2 people! This is a truth! The truth does not lie! So you decide, is safety his first priority?
Posted by now_ready1 on March 2, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The City of Charleston and its good ole boy leadership, what an expensive, sick joke.
They have the nerve to preach to us that they, Charleston, are the leaders of all the low country.
What a sick joke.
Posted by alizenlightenment on March 2, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Up from the Ashes? More like SWEEPING THE ASHES UNDER THE RUG!
"Before June 18, few had reason to criticize the Charleston Fire Department. For centuries, its firefighters aggressively protected their city — its buildings, its history, its people. When others approached dangerous fires with caution, Charleston charged the flames. In the process, they protected property, saved lives and earned praise from a grateful public."
Firefighters charged in without caution and without protection. They were lucky not to have this happen earlier.
"Thomas has repeatedly defended the department's tactics at the sofa store fire and maintained that nothing could have been done differently to prevent the loss of the nine firefighters."
Something different could have been done: Implementing the use of caution and respect for life.
"How does he go about changing the culture when he doesn't think we did anything wrong?" Capt. Jamie Greene, a 20-year veteran, said. "If none of these things would have mattered, then why are we doing them?"
Exactly! And why is the very individual who disrespected the brothers and sons of others the very one that is now in charge of acquiring the proper equipment and training that he's denied them in the past???
"Thomas and his commanders, however, insist safety is a top priority. The department has adopted a strict incident command system to manage fire scenes and keep better track of firefighters' duties and whereabouts."
... because they weren't doing this prior to this event.
Why not find a chief who has had this priority throughout their career and EDUCATION?
Posted by bootlicked on March 2, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why in the hell is the boys from Enron in jail? They should have millions of dollars thrown at them and be told O.K. we'll show you step by step how to fix your problems even though you should be in jail it is O.K !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by carolinapanther on March 2, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the changes in the world would not satisfy all the Riley and Rusty haters. Its time to move on and quit complaining about who is in charge. Dont stress about things you cant change, worry about things that can be changed. Riley and Rusty are not going anywhere! Deal with that fact and move on. It seems that some are jealous of the position that chief Thomas holds.
Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 2, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jealous of the position he holds? What a sad statement! Yes we can change things, and Rusty's job will be one. Maybe we can put him in charge of lies and deceit, or better yet of No change is good change. I do not hate the man, it his his lack of education that scares the hell out of me. "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES" COULD APPLY TO RUSTY! I am sure Forest Gump at lest understood his place in life. Rusty is no leader, he is a dictator who is not concerned what his men think of him. "I am the boss and we will do it my way", " it's my way or the highway", " if you can't hack it , get your jacket", "It has work for us for the last 50 years", so why change now". FOR THOSE OF WHO DO NOT KNOW THOSE ARE QUOTES OF CHIEF RUSTY THOMAS.
Move on you say? That is exactly what the powers who be want! They want it all to go away. So caolinapanther we who believe there is a better way and know the true fact are going no where until either Rusty admits he did some thing wrong or is replaced by someone with an education and experience running a real fire dept. Not someone who learned it from Daddy!
Posted by carolinapanther on March 2, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like you have a problem with authority. If you dont like it why dont you leave the department. Seems like all firefighters do is sit around their stations and complain. Get over it or find something else to do for a living. If you know how to do your job than do it and quit worrying about how much education your boss has. Rusty is not doing your job for you is he? I dont harldy ever see my boss so I could care less what he does or what his education is. Again quit acting like a jealous little high school girl.
Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 2, 2008 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are so lame! 9 men are dead! Does you boss hold life or death over you head? Does your boss instruct you to run into burning buildings? You may not care if your boss is educated, but firefighters do! Well as I have heard through the fire fighter grape vine, that you are related to one of the command staff. If so I understand your apparent objection to the truth coming out. The the truth hurts so much, then you do not have to listen. In the end it matters very little to me how you think or feel.
Posted by deputy216 on March 2, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was a deputy sheriif in the state of georgia for twenty seven years and lost my partner who was shot and not wearing a vest.The people who sat at the head of the table were to tigh with the dollar and were unwilling to spend the two hundred or so dollars to keep us out of harms way.There is no amount of money that you can place on human life.My hat goes off to all the firefighters in charleston area and hope those who are in charge wake up.
Posted by FamilyThatKnowsTheTruth on March 2, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was curious what type of comments that would show up over here on the P & C blog. First of all, I think all of you should post your name inside your post. My name is Randy Hutchinson so you will know that I am not hiding behind anything. I need to somehow cancel my blog username and get my name on it. I have seldom posted on this site.
There always seems to be people posting on both ends of the issues. It is good to see everyone's thoughts and positions. I noticed that one of the blogger's seems to think that some folks have problems with authority and thinks that firemen just sit around and whine all day because they are jealous.
How about the people who are not in the fire dept that see the problem for what it is, not for what C.P. states? C.P., your comments remind me so much of the blogger named, HIGBY over on FF Hourly. You seem so sure of yourself that others should just follow RT like blind sheep over the cliff or leave the dept.
Why would people just worry about the things that they can change? Who thinks, besides a few people like you that Rusty is not going anywhere? There are (9) reasons to stay and to deal with the facts and for RT to move on. There could have been as many as (19) reasons by only (30) seconds or less.
C.P., thanks for showing us how some will defend people no matter how strong the facts are against them. It just gives some of us the energy and drive to stay on top of it. You might want to get your head out of the sand before the tide comes in. Second thought, stay where you are. Better yet, all of ya'll should post your names so your statement has credibility. One does not have to agree with anyone, at least you know who I am. I know, who cares?
Posted by Harpo on March 3, 2008 at 6:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Carolinapanther advocates accepting the status quo and
allowing Riley/Thomas to escape the growing public sentiment
against them. As for things that cannot be changed, this
poster is sadly mistaken; it might take time, but their
tenures can and will be changed. Once Riley is out, Thomas
better clear his desk and pack because his incompetent butt's gonna follow Riley.
The nine will not go away and 11th hour changes will not
redeem this fire chief from the years of mismanagement that
led to their deaths. Please keep your amateur psychoanalysis
of these posters under you hat; these are not jealous
schoolgirls posting here and their points are very valid.
I applaud the new equipment and training and note with
regret what it took to get Charleston to this point.
Remember the nine.
Posted by east3 on March 3, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, it’s nice for the CFD firefighters to see some positive press I guess, but the chief doesn’t deserve to be coddled. Eight months after his negligent leadership killed nine firefighters, Thomas has yet to institute any new water supply procedures. Large diameter hose could have been on the engines months ago. (By the way, doubling the diameter of a hose increases its water carrying capacity by FOUR times. Simple math.)
Even without the “big hose”, supply capacity could have been doubled almost overnight by splitting the 2.5” hose load and laying out TWO lines instead of one. That’s how we did it here 33 years ago when I was a rookie. Has anything been done in terms of training or procedure to ensure that 1” booster lines are no longer laid at structure fires? Has 1.75” and 2” line been ordered to replace the outdated 1.5” hose? Have new high capacity nozzles been ordered? Have any portable monitors been ordered for the engines?
Twelve new firefighters have been hired. To be blunt, that is probably not enough rookies to fill the vacancies left by the nine deaths and by any retirements since then. Why not hire all 24 that were called for? This suggests that nothing has been done to increase staffing on apparatus. Are the extra apparatus being sent consistently on fires that the report recommended?
How were the new firefighters trained? Were they sent to the State fire academy to get the full blown training all new professional firefighters should receive? Have the CFD trainers been to the academy to get certified as professional fire service instructors? How many CFD chief officers have attended the SC state fire academy or the National Fire Academy since 6/18? These courses are very inexpensive and teach the latest standards of professional practice and incident command. When will promotional testing be instituted? In the absence of a civil service, outside consultants can be hired to conduct testing.
The new air masks are great, but they are required to meet new national standards. In other words, it is news that Chief Thomas is going to upgrade some of his firefighters’ equipment to meet national standards.
Chief Thomas has not been held accountable for the clear fact that prior to this, for over fifteen years, his firefighters have had substandard equipment, organization and procedures; and his deliberately negligent attitude toward professional standards led directly to the deaths of nine firefighters, the nation’s worst structural firefighting disaster, other than 9/11, since 1975. Other firefighters barely escaped the SSS fire with their lives that night and we are just lucky the death toll was not higher. Perhaps the final task force report will cut through some of the smoke and make it clear where the responsibility for those deaths lies.
Posted by THISMUSTSTOP on March 3, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It makes me sick to know that Chief Thomas is still incharge. How can people say to just leave it alone or to get another job? If you lost some great friends, would you fight for a little while and then just move on to other friends?
These changes being made (still some debate as to how long they will last based on past experience) are not new for the fire service. These things have been out for years. The tactics employed by the fire department are from the 1950's. Would you accept the police department using 1950's tactics? Nah, how about sanitation? or medicine? EMS didn't even exist in the 1950's. I'm sure the City of Charleston would like to go back to 1950's technology so the local media would be their only obstacle.
One of the most well know fire service writers has said, "I am beginning to believe that the Charleston FD is a lost cause. If being the laughing stock of the civilized fire service has had no effect, I am on the verge of throwing up my hands... If the Routley report did not get their attention, than I have no idea what would work."
I'm sure Rusty Thomas is a great guy, but a great Fire Chief his is not! He's a very bad Fire Chief for any city. Stay in your fog if you like, but please understand that you are in a fog.
ChiefMO
Posted by captainscott on March 3, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But I don't think the public should hold it over the fire department's head forever," he said.
"I don't believe a true firemen in this city would have done anything differently that day. If I had been on the first truck in, someone would probably have been writing about me too. That's what we do."
ITS NOT FOREVER!!!! ONCE THE FINAL REPORTS ARE OUT TO SHOW HOW NEGLIGENT YOU WERE IT WILL PROVE HOW BAD THE DECISION MAKING WAS THAT TERRIBLE DAY. FOR YOU TO STILL INSIST THAT A "TRUE FIREMAN" WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT SHOWS HOW INCOMPETENT YOU ARE AS A CHIEF.
Posted by bootlicked on March 3, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder what was wrong with the firefighters that he wouldn't have hired ? Maybe they weren't related to him or any of the other chiefs, maybe they were black, or maybe they were women ; who knows. I bet this just raised the morale of all the new hires. You are an idiot Rusty keep talking.
Posted by THISMUSTSTOP on March 4, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He sure clears up any doubt almost everytime he speaks