June 2--In advance of the 10th anniversary of the night nine Charleston firefighters died, the Greensboro Fire Department has given itself a month-long safety challenge to honor the fallen.
On June 18, 2007, a fire broke out at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston and nine firefighters became trapped and were killed after the roof collapsed.
The men who perished were captains Mike Benke, William Hutchinson and Louis Mulkey; firefighters Melven Champaign, James Drayton and Brandon Thompson; and engineers Brad Baity, Michael French and Mark Kelsey. It had marked the highest number of firefighter fatalities in a single event since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2011, until nineteen of the Prescott, AZ, "Granite Mountain Hotshots" died in the Yarnell Hill Wildfire on June 30, 2013.
Promoting fire safety to honor those that were lost, Greensboro Fire has challenged each of its fire companies to visit at least nine residences during the month of June and check on or install a smoke alarm in each. For stations covering areas with manufacturing facilities, the department has encouraged them to contact at least nine properties and set up a time to make a fire safety presentation for employees.
By the department's math, if its fleet of 24 engines, 11 ladders and one rescue vehicle can each meet the nine quota on all three shifts, they can reach well over 900 homes and businesses this month.
"We believe this challenge fits into our Community Risk Reduction program, as well as meets our Department's mission to exist as an organization for one purpose -- to serve people and protect life, property and the environment for all people entrusted to our care," the department said in a release.
Greensboro Fire says it was inspired by both the upcoming anniversary and a presentation by Dr. David Griffin. Griffin was the driver of one of the first responding engines to the scene of the 2007 fire, and he's asking departments across the nation to take proactive steps to promote fire safety in their communities as a way to pay tribute.
According to a study released in 2015 by the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five deaths in residential structure fires occurred when there was either no working smoke alarm or none present.
Firefighters will give residents a card informing them of the challenge, contact information if they would like to make inspection appointments, and information on the department's regular smoke alarm program.
Greensboro Fire has echoed Dr. Griffin in asking that departments nationwide consider stepping up to the "Charleston 9 Challenge." They are encouraging departments to use the following hashtags if they are participating: #C9C,#Charleston9Challenge, #GSOFireDeptC9C.
