Fire at furniture warehouse in Charleston, 9 firefighters died

Fire swept through a furniture warehouse in the southern city of Charleston, claiming the lives of nine firefighters.

Photo: Fire at furniture warehouse in Charleston, 9 firefighters died

"Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties," Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference. "To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."

Two employees in the building were rescued from the blaze, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Monday in the Sofa Super Store and warehouse, Riley said. One was rescued quickly, and firefighters punched a hole through a wall of the warehouse to reach the other, he said.

Firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers saluted as the firefighters' bodies were carried from the warehouse during the night.

"To lose nine is just a tragedy of immense proportions," Riley said. "To lose nine is just unbelievable."

The department has 237 firefighters in 19 companies located throughout the city of about 106,000.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, but Riley said arson was not suspected. He said the blaze apparently started in a storage area. He was unsure whether there were sprinklers in the building.

The county coroner scheduled an afternoon news conference to release the names of the dead.

Witnesses said the collapse of the roof threw debris over about two-dozen rescue workers. Onlookers were hit with flying ash.

"It was like a 30-foot (9-meter) tornado of flames," said Mark Hilton, who was struck in his eye.

Salesman Daniel Shahid told CNN the roof collapsed too quickly for anyone to escape.

"It came from nowhere," he said. "It was a standing structure and five seconds later it was on the ground."

Riley called the firefighters heroes.

"This is a profession that we must never take for granted," the mayor said. "There's a fire raging and they go toward it."

Store owner Herb Goldstein released a statement to express his sorrow.

"All of us at Sofa Super Store are devastated and heartbroken by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the heroic firefighters who lost their lives," he said.

He had owned the store for about 15 years, said his son, Jeff Goldstein.

In a small plaza next to the city's main fire house, notes and flowers were left at the base of a monument to firefighters Tuesday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you and your families. We are deeply saddened and want you all to know that we value your bravery and thank you for putting your lives on the line to keep us all safe. God bless you all," read one note.

Gov. Mark Sanford ordered state flags lowered to half staff Tuesday.