Eighteen years have passed since Charleston’s bravest firefighters lost their lives while battling a devastating fire at the Sofa Super Store and warehouse in West Ashley. On June 18, 2025, Charleston Fire Department personnel will stand watch for 24 hours at the Charleston 9 Memorial Park to honor and remember the nine firefighters who perished in the line of duty.
Honoring the Charleston 9
The annual ceremony will take place at the Charleston 9 Memorial Park, located at 1807 Savannah Highway, on the grounds where the Sofa Super Store once stood. The memorial, dedicated to those who lost their lives in the tragedy, serves as a place of remembrance for the fallen firefighters and their families.
The event is open to the public, but seating is limited, with priority given to the families of the fallen and Charleston Fire Department members. The community is encouraged to attend and pay respects to the courageous men who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their community.
A Day of Remembrance
On the evening of June 18, 2007, a fire broke out at the Sofa Super Store and warehouse. As black smoke poured from the building, Charleston firefighters raced to the scene. After rescuing an employee trapped inside the building, the situation quickly worsened as the fire consumed the structure.
Several firefighters lost communication and became disoriented inside the burning building. A “mayday” call was issued as the firefighters struggled to escape the rapidly deteriorating conditions. The building’s front showroom eventually collapsed, claiming the lives of nine firefighters who were inside.
The Heroes We Lost
The firefighters who tragically lost their lives in the Sofa Super Store fire were:
Firefighter Brandon Thompson
Engineer Brad Baity
Captain Louis Mulkey
Engineer Mark Kelsey
Captain Mike Benke
Captain William Hutchinson
Firefighter Melvin Champaign
Assistant Engineer Michael French
Firefighter Earl Drayton
Then-Charleston Mayor Joe Riley addressed the community that night, describing the tragedy: “Tonight… a great and heroic tragedy has befallen our community. Brave members of the City of Charleston Fire Department, fighting this massive blaze in a store filled with fuel, among the most combustible of fuel, a sofa store. This massive fire has produced several City of Charleston firefighters who are now missing.”
The following day, each fallen firefighter was carried out of the building by their brothers in the fire service, a heartbreaking yet powerful moment of solidarity and respect.
The Cause of the Fire
An investigation later determined that the fire started in a pile of trash, where employees often took smoking breaks. The trash was located in a covered loading dock area between the showroom and warehouse, which ultimately became the source of the blaze.
Ceremony Details
The annual ceremony on June 18 will include a 24-hour watch by Charleston Fire Department personnel at the Charleston 9 Memorial Park. Those wishing to attend in person should be aware that parking will be limited. Carpooling is encouraged, as the memorial’s parking lot will not be available. However, limited parking is available at the vacant lot off Wappoo Road near the West Ashley Bikeway.
For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the Charleston Fire Department’s Facebook page, allowing people to participate in the remembrance from anywhere.
The Charleston 9 tragedy remains a solemn and powerful reminder of the risks firefighters take to protect their communities. Each year, the anniversary serves as an opportunity for Charleston to come together, remember the fallen, and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who risk everything in the line of duty.
