Charleston Marks Five Years Since Sofa Super Store Fire

June 18, 2012
On June 18, 2007, nine Charleston firefighters answered their final alarm.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Five years ago this evening, nine firefighters answered their final alarm at the Sofa Super Store.

At 7 p.m., their families, colleagues and others will pause to remember their sacrifices.

The ceremony remembering Captains Billy Hutchinson, Mike Benke, and Louis Mulkey; Engineers Mark Kelsey and Brad Baity, Assistant Engineer Michael French; and Firefighters Earl Drayton, Melvin Champaign and Brandon Thompson will be respectful.

The service will consist of a bagpiper, the ringing of a bell for each of the fallen heroes and musical selections by James Smith, a firefighter from North Carolina.

There will be a procession of uniformed personnel, some of whom were with their brothers at the fire.

Firehouse.com will be providing more coverage of tonight's event.

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