Nine firefighters killed in South Carolina blaze
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{{date|June 20, 2007}}
[[Image:Firefighter with axe.jpg|right|thumb|A firefighter in full turn-out gear.]]
Nine [[w:Firefighter|firefighters]] were killed on Monday while battling a massive fire at a furniture warehouse in [[w:Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston, South Carolina]]. 

Firefighters were called to the scene of a massive blaze at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C. at around 6:30 p.m. EST. At around 7 p.m., nine firefighters were sent inside the inferno to rescue people who were trapped inside the building. They rescued two before the ceiling collapsed on top of them. All nine firefighters who were inside the warehouse died. They are:

*Capt. William Hutchinson, 48
*Capt. Mike Benke, 49
*Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34
*FF Mark Kelsey, 40
*FF Bradford Baity, 37
*FF Michael French, 27
*FF James "Earl" Drayton, 56
*FF Brandon Thompson, 27
*FF Melven Champaign, 46

The disaster recalls [[w:Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire|Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire]] that killed six firefighters on Dec. 3, 1999, in [[w:Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester, Massachusetts]]. The chief of the Worcester Fire Department flew down to South Carolina for the memorial service.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/us/19cnd-charleston.html?ex=1339905600&en=19eb10a569d7ae67&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|title=9 Firefighters Are Killed In South Carolina Blaze|author=Anthony Bartelme, Anahad O'Connor |pub=New York Times|date=June 19, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20070620/FRONTPAGENEWS/70620002|title=Worcester fire officials aiding S.C. brethren|author=Richard Nangal|pub=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=June 20, 2007}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:South Carolina]]
[[Category:Fires]]

</noinclude>
A firefighter in full turn-out gear.
Nine firefighters were killed on Monday while battling a massive fire at a furniture warehouse in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Firefighters were called to the scene of a massive blaze at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C. at around 6:30 p.m. EST. At around 7 p.m., nine firefighters were sent inside the inferno to rescue people who were trapped inside the building. They rescued two before the ceiling collapsed on top of them. All nine firefighters who were inside the warehouse died. They are:

*Capt. William Hutchinson, 48
*Capt. Mike Benke, 49
*Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34
*FF Mark Kelsey, 40
*FF Bradford Baity, 37
*FF Michael French, 27
*FF James "Earl" Drayton, 56
*FF Brandon Thompson, 27
*FF Melven Champaign, 46

The disaster recalls Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire that killed six firefighters on Dec. 3, 1999, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The chief of the Worcester Fire Department flew down to South Carolina for the memorial service.
United States North America disasters and accidents South Carolina Fires