Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire

The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire of June 18, 2007 claimed the lives of nine firefighters, the highest number of firefighter fatalities in a single event since 9/11. This resource page brings together in one spot a comprehensive overview of all major reports concerning this tragedy published to date. Also included as helpful background material are numerous magazine articles, videos, audio files, photos and more. Taken together these materials afford students of this incident an overview of great breadth and depth. We will add more material as it becomes available.

  1. Initial Investigation
  2. Phase I Routley Report
  3. Phase II Routley Report
  4. NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
  5. NIST Technical Study

Reports and articles that examine the cause and consequences of the fire

Initial Investigation (June 2007)

The ATF conducted an initial origin and cause investigation from June 19-22, 2007 and determined the point of origin was in an area of discarded furniture in the loading dock area. The cause was left undetermined but there was strong reason to believe that a discarded cigarette may have been the ignition source…

  1. ATF's Report on the Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire – (published June 2007)
  2. Blaze Kills 9 Firefighters in South Carolina – National Public Radio -(June 2007)

Phase I Routley Report (October 2007)

In the aftermath of the fire the city of Charleston hired a task force of independent experts, headed by J. Gordon Routley, to examine the tragedy. It released its 39 page, Phase I report in October 2007. This report set forth some 200 recommended changes for the City of Charleston Fire Department. These were grouped into three priority levels with varying timelines for implementation. Top priority items included the categories of training, apparatus staffing, overtime and compensatory time, administrative cultural leadership, firefighter selection, dispatch and communications, regional cooperation, health and safety programs, respiratory protection, personal protective clothing, firefighter uniforms, apparatus, tools and equipment, and fire and building code enforcement.

  1. City of Charleston, Post Incident Assessment and Review Team, Phase 1 Report , (published October 16, 2007)

Additional commentary

  1. History Revealing Fire Chief (published December 1 , 2007)
  2. Last man out: last survivor from Charleston sofa store fire Firehouse Magazine, (published Nov 2007 )
  3. Charleston Fire Dept. Report Released Fire Chief, (Published October 2007)

Phase II Routley Report (May 2008)

The 272 page Phase II report was released on May 15, 2008, and provided an in-depth incident analysis of the Sofa Super Store fire. Included in the report are an incident chronology, an overview of the building in which the fire occurred, an analysis of fire department operations including incident management, firefighter safety and tactical operations and it concludes with Lessons and Recommendations.

  1. Charleston Sofa Super Store Phase II report - (published May 15, 2008) – Firefighter Fatality Investigative Report Sofa Super Store, 1807 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina, June 18, 2007, City of Charleston, Post Incident Assessment and Review Team, Phase II Report

Additional commentary

  1. The lessons of Charleston – Occupational Health and Safety (published August 1, 2008)
  2. Charleston's Lessons : J. Gordon Routley says there are important lessons every fire department can take from the Charleston tragedy Fire Chief (published July 2008)
  3. Making Sense of It : industry experts weigh in on the Charleston Post-Incident Assessment and Review Team's Phase II Report - Fire Chief magazine (free registration required) (published July 1, 2008)
  4. The naked chief – Fire Chief (published June 1, 2008) (on the Routley Phase II report)

NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (February 2009)

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a fire fighter fatality investigation and issued their report in February 2009. It examined issues relating to personal protective equipment of the victims, their level of training, problems with water supply, mutual aid and command and control among other factors. Included in their report are a detailed timeline and a sequence of events that led to the tragedy. The report makes 43 recommendations for what fire departments should do in order to avoid a reoccurrence of such an incident.

  1. NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Report - Nine Career Fire Fighters Die in Rapid Fire Progression at Commercial Furniture Showroom (published February 2009)

Additional commentary

  1. Routley at EGH Summit: Complacency is the greatest risk we face – FirefighterNation, (published March 7, 2009)
  2. NIOSH Releases Report on Charleston Fire Fire Chief, (published February 13, 2009)

NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super store Fire (March 2011)

The final 2 volume NIST technical study was released on March 14th, 2011. It focused on the structural conditions of the building and how it was impacted by the fire’s progression. The report was particularly critical of the lack of installed fire protection. During the course of this technical study, NIST was able to identify the reasons for the rapid spread of fire and smoke, and the reasons for the difficulties encountered by the fire fighters as they attempted to exit the main showroom.The NIST study made 11 recommendations for enhancing building, occupant and firefighter safety nationwide.

  1. Volume I: NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super Store Fire - South Carolina, June 18, 2007 (published March 14, 2011)
  2. Volume II: NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super Store Fire - South Carolina, June 18, 2007 (published March 14, 2011)
  3. Graphic Showing Floor Plan of Charleston Sofa Super Store
  4. Graphic Showing Smoke and Fire Movement at Six Points During Charleston Fire
  5. Graphic Showing Temperature Levels at Six Points During Charleston Fire
  6. Graphic Showing Oxygen Levels at Six Points During Charleston Fire

Additional commentary

  1. Charleston Sofa Super Store Tragedy as Nine Firefighters Lose their Lives - A Tactical Review – FireTactics (published December 2010)
  2. Charleston Sofa Super Store: An Unfiltered Perspective - Fire Engineering, (published 23 Nov 2010)
  3. Let Us Use the Knowledge Wisely (NIST Report) Firehouse, (published October 29, 2010)
  4. NIST Releases Sofa Store Fire Behavior Report; Technical Study Calls For Fire Prevention Recommendations Firefighter Nation, (published October 28, 2010)
  5. NIST Study on the Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire Firefighter Nation, (published October 28, 2010)
  6. Sofa Super Store Fire Timeline - Fire Chief, (published October 28, 2010)
  7. NIST's Sofa Super Store Study Recommendations Fire Chief, (published October 28, 2010)
  8. NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements NIST , (published October 28, 2010)
  9. Layout, High Fuel Loads Contributed to Rapid Sofa Store Fire Spread, NIST Study Finds – Fire Chief (published October 28, 2010)

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