Investigator says facts from fire will be emotionally difficult'Factual,' 'tough' report coming By Glenn Smith (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, March 17, 2008
Firefighter CoverageIn our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.A team of firefighting experts investigating the Sofa Super Store blaze is expected to visit Charleston this week to begin finalizing its highly anticipated report on what went wrong at the fatal June 18 fire. The final report likely won't be out until April, but it's expected to contain a comprehensive timeline of how nine city firefighters died in the fire. The report also could include details collected by federal agencies studying the blaze. Some say the report's findings are likely to stir strong emotions, while others expect it to renew a debate over whether changes are needed in the fire department's leadership. Gordon Routley, a former Louisiana fire chief heading the six-member panel, said there is tremendous national interest in the project and it's usually the first subject people quiz him about wherever he goes. Routley is confident that the final product "will be the absolute telling of what happened. It's going to be very factual. It's going to be tough emotionally because it will bring events back out into the forefront and lay all of that on the table. There's no avoiding that. It's healthy to get it out in the open and deal with facts." For some, the information will serve a more personal purpose. Jim Baity wants to know every detail of the events leading up to the death of his son Brad, an engineer who perished inside the sofa store. A former volunteer firefighter himself, Jim Baity senses that something went terribly wrong that night. "For my own peace of mind, I would like the facts," he said. "I want to find out what happened. In some way, I think if we do that, it would help us find some sort of closure." Experts hope the findings will produce lifesaving lessons that will benefit firefighters across the nation. For months, the Charleston Fire Department's handling of the blaze has been the subject of intense debate in articles, conferences, Internet blogs and firehouses from coast to coast. Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering magazine, said firefighters want to know what happened so they can learn from the tragedy. "That's the only reason. Not to point fingers or assess blame. We're doing this so we can honor those guys' memories." Some, however, still want Charleston's fire commanders held accountable for the loss of nine men in a building that already had been evacuated. Jeff Zack, assistant to the general president of the Washington-based International Association of Fire Fighters, said he expects the report to demonstrate that the Charleston Fire Department has a "unique, damaging and wildly dysfunctional command culture" and to bolster arguments that Fire Chief Rusty Thomas should lose his job. "The report should clearly show that CFD leadership failed to protect firefighters in that fire and failed to equip and train them properly." Thomas has steadfastly defended his department's handling of the fire, though he recently acknowledged that he worries daily about the contents of the upcoming report. Still, Thomas has vowed to stay on and see through a host of changes aimed at modernizing and improving the tradition-bound department. Those changes are the result of the six-member panel's initial report, issued in October, that recommended a top-to-bottom overhaul of tactics, equipment and management. The fire department has gone all out to showcase the improvements to date, inviting the media to view its new training, equipment and safety practices up close. Randy Hutchinson is a former Charleston firefighter whose brother, Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, died in the fire. He said he thinks the department's public displays are merely an attempt to blunt the sting of the pending report. He is frustrated that families still are waiting to learn what happened June 18. "It's a travesty for it to be dragged out like this," he said. "Obviously something went wrong. Why can't they just tell us what it is?" Routley said he understands that people are anxious to see what the panel found in its investigation, but said the team feels a duty to ensure its report is as thorough as possible. "Don't lose faith because it's taking longer than some people anticipated," he said. "It's big and complicated. Just bear with us and it will be done right." Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com. Reach Ron Menchaca at rmenchaca@postandcourier.com or 937-5724. |
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Comments
This article has 16 comment(s)
Posted by cfdiaffman on March 17, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rusty Thomas is a self centered selfesh man. The statement, "Still, Thomas has vowed to stay on and see through a host of changes aimed at modernizing and improving the tradition-bound department." Tells his story. He cares nothing about how the CFD firefighters feel about him staying on. All he cares about is the fat check the city pays him. His sorry leadership lead nine good men to their deaths. That will always be his legacy in the CFD. Riley, do the right thing, retire Thomas, now.
Posted by moonpie on March 17, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah lets see what happens here after this is published. You could see from the videos we have all seen it was a disorganized mess. Passer by Fire fighters running in with out their proper protective clothing, gear, etc. You just gotta ask who was in charge and that's a fair question to ask.
I'm just sorry these families have to re-live this again.
Posted by firefightersforthetruth on March 17, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our greatest hope is the facts and truths will be made clear to the public so as they can see that there has been a huge cover up with in the City of Charleston. The fact that no one has been held accountable up to this point, 9 months later, smacks of the good old boy political system in the state of South Carolina and here in Charleston. Facts can not be distorted or changed. A spin can be put on it by the City but international pressure will not allow this to happen with out heads rolling.
Rest in peace our nine brothers for we here have not forgotten you and will stand up for the truth no matter how long it takes.
Posted by Thomas1776 on March 17, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fire scene was so disorganized. Anyone there could see that. Especially when you have fire fighters on top of ladder trucks and in the air with no oxygen tanks and in t-shirts. Imagine all the toxic flumes that they inhaled into their lungs which may lead to cancer later on.
There also seemed to be more uniformed public service employees standing around just watching than there were actually fighting the fire. All the photography shows that, too.
Riley and Rusty should have long ago been forced out of their positions.
Posted by BillytheKid on March 17, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe was just re-elected. If Rusty was going to be fired he would have after he said he would change nothing if he had to fight the fire over again.
Rusty should have been fired but Joe won't do it this late, or maybe they were trying to have Rusty vested in the retirement system.
Posted by legaloperative on March 17, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even today the fire department remains a complete mess and no one cares enough to take charge and apply nationally accepted standards. I'm trying hard not to insult any of the brave men that serve the department today, but anyone who opens a present day textbook or operating manual can understand that command and communications are anchors, in any emergency situation.
In the first scenes of X-Files The Movie (from a DECADE ago-1998) you see how a small-town fire department in Texas establishes radio command as soon as the first engine came to a complete stop and the commander had complete control of the men following his leadership. That was a movie!!? CFD apply it in real-life? No. WE have our scene commander running directly into the building with the men he was responsible for. Now pull away from standard fire-science/management tactics; does that even make common sense to your average layman?
It is disheartening. They are only as good as the tools they are given; AND whether they use them properly. Thermal imaging camera? Not used. Tag-out, tag-in system. Not used. Established command, utilizing the nationally accepted 7 person span-of-control. Not followed. You listen to Rusty's (why would I call him Chief after this?) radio transmission on that day, and he's trying to communicate with a lot more than 7 people. P.S. It doesn't sound like he knows how to use his radio correctly either. And wasn't communications break down one of the main factors cited in the FDNY study of the 9/11 disaster? Did Rusty care to learn that lesson? Didn't think so.
What's worse? Since they can't use the radios correctly, do you think you can even hear when a Captain or Batt. Chief radios in that he has command? Didn't think so, again. He's pressing his PTT mic and no one hear it clearly. Heck, do our engines and ladders arriving even transmit what type of a structure their dealing with (brick, wood, residential, etc.)? Again, a resounding no. So do you think the dispatcher even knows what the eyes-on-the-ground are seeing? Again, no.
Even listening to radio transmissions of the department TODAY, you hear open mics during hot responses. You can't tell which units have arrived and which ones are still en-route (since you can't step over an open mic transmission without getting some sort of distortion). You can't clearly hear if a 'cancellation' has been transmitted (sometimes there's even confusion if there's a cancel, meanwhile, you still have a 20 ton engine barrelling down to your intersection with your wife and kids in the car on a bright sunny day. It's only a matter of time... Heck, it was a week or so ago when a radio car (police car) t-boned a car at an intersection when the radio car didn't obey a stop sign, NOT responding to a call with NO lights or sirens. Did anyone raise holy heck over it? Nope. Again, ignored.
Posted by legaloperative on March 17, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
King Riley, this all filters up to you. The chief executive of the city. Great job King. Have you even noticed that your police department almost parallels the fire department. Chief Mullen can only be as good as the tools you provide to him. He's trying his best, but when I listen to a response to a crime in progress and hear the first unit arrive on-scene; they can't even give a proper 'scrip. For instance, at best, you might hear the r/o transmit: 'suspect is a white male wearing sneakers.' Yeah, A+ departments we have here in Charleston. King Riley, maybe that's why you inaugurated Chief Mullen with a 'badge' (badges are for Boy Scouts) and not his police chief SHIELD.
Yeah. I feel safe. Real safe.
Posted by grayhead on March 17, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rusty is Joe's man. What Joe wants, Joe gets (or keeps). 'Nuff said.
Posted by bjp99 on March 17, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will this report really be factual though? It makes me wonder since the last "report" this panel put out went through Riley and Rusty and they changed things. Will they be able to do the same thing again??? For these families, I sure hope not...
Posted by lexylady on March 17, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right, Harpo. Then after Rusty is fired, King Joe Riley himself should be fired!!
Posted by captivated on March 17, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Changing things in an official report! That's illegal last time I heard. We all know Riley and Rusty would never do anything illegal or above the law!
Posted by east3 on March 17, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is kind of Fire Engineering to say that all we want to do is learn from this tragedy. Unfortunately, for most fire professionals that is hogwash. With Charleston operating as if it were 1950, few other departments, especially professional departments, can learn much from this fire. The rest of the professional fire service made most of the significant changes called for by the Task Force 10-20 years ago – incident command, risk management, fireground safety and discipline, large diameter hose, radio communications, mutual aid, apparatus staffing, alarm levels, defensive operations, thermal imaging, basic lightweight truss tactics, etc. Charleston was in a time capsule.
Virtually every aspect of CFD operations was out of date and unsafe. This creates unsafe working conditions. The spineless state OSHA backed away from their initial correct conclusion that this was knowing negligence. The state attorney general should have been investigating criminal culpability. The fact is that a fire department is responsible for all the aspects of firefighting that it can control so that when firefighters arrive at the uncontrolled fire, they have everything possible working in their favor. The case in Charleston was just the opposite. Everything in the “Thomas system” worked against their survival. Was his ignorance deliberate? He pointedly said that you can’t learn how to put out fires from books and that these deadly methods would never change. Of course it was knowing and deliberate. Thomas and his minions simply chose to ignore and reject every advance in firefighting command, equipment and safety.
I am embarrassed that no one of stature in our profession outside of the IAFF has the guts to demand accountability. Are they afraid of getting sued? The deliberate long term gross negligence of Chief Thomas led directly to these unnecessary deaths. I hope that some family member will stand up for the fallen brothers and sue him and the Mayor and the city once the Routley and NIOSH reports provide a basis of fact. These deaths were preventable. No one can say whether the fire could have been put out. But it is probable that with proper equipment, training, tactics and procedures, the fire could have been handled without firefighter deaths or serious injury. We do know that the Thomas system did not save the buildings and it did kill firefighters.
Subsequently, the Mayor has failed in his duty by keeping this incompetent and dangerous man in his position as fire chief. The city council likewise refused to act. There are lawyers among the council members who should know something of liability and accountability, but perhaps they are corporate lawyers more used to covering up malfeasance than exposing and acting against it.
In addition to a tragedy, this fire and its aftermath are a black eye both for the silent leaders of the fire service and for the city of Charleston and its gutless leadership.
Posted by cfdiaffman on March 17, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Thomas was any kind of man at all he would retire and let the CFD grow into a modern FD. If he wants the CFD to be the best, then the first step is for him to leave and for Joe to bring in someone from outside of SC that has a proven record of managing a 21st century FD. Wake up Joe, don't let Thomas kill anymore of our firefighters. How can either of these morons sleep at night. I truly hope our 9 guys are at rest and in peace. But I hope that Thomas and Joe are haunted in their dreams every night. But one most likely needs a soul for that to happen. That's something that Thomas and Riley is missing.
Posted by gcs on March 18, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Y'all are effin idiots!! Do y'all really think that Rusty was like,"Hey guys, go in that building!! It's about to collapse, but just go in there anyways!!" Everybody always wants to point a finger & blame somebody!! It was nobody's fault!! I hope something in y'all's life goes wrong & you are to blame (even though it was not on purpose!)!! Y'all all need to get a life!!
Posted by jifdeng3 on March 19, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GSC, What is you basis for your opinion? Do you have formal fire training? Have you worked in the fire or emergency services? You cannot fight a fire in a lightweight truss building the same way you fight a wood frame structure. A regular house will stand far longer than a building with lightweight truss roofs, and then add the fire load of the sofas. That building was proabably going to collapse that night, but some simple training in building construction and ventilation technique would have rendered a different outcome. Thats not even delving into the firefighting methods used. The fact is that you are wrong. Every event has a cause, and every decision has a consequense(sp) negative or positive. Rustys lack of knowledge and his refusal to bring his department out of the 1960's directly led to those mens death. Would nine men still have died? We will never know that answer but history does repeat itself and his continued poor leadership will eventually lead to another tragedy. He needs to retire, and Ill leave it at that.
Posted by THISMUSTSTOP on March 19, 2008 at 11:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gcs-Do y'all really think that Rusty was like,"Hey guys, go in that building!! It's about to collapse, but just go in there anyways!!"
Actually he was doing that. I've seen a video of him pointing into the door and firefighters rushing in. I don't believe that he knew he was sending those guys in to their death, but he should have known. He is guilty because he should have known that the fire department couldn't fight this fire from inside. So many problems, so many.
I've heard he is a great person; he even cuts his grass on time, brings in his trash can and doesn't let his dog bark all night long. He may be a great man, but a great Fire Chief he is not.