3 Years Out: What’s Changed in Charleston?
By Cindy Devone-Pacheco

Three years ago today, nine firefighters lost their lives inside the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C. It was an incident that many in the Charleston Fire Department (CFD) thought could never happen to them. It was an incident that, in the most savage way possible, exposed the fallacy of that mindset. Ultimately, it led to a litany of accusations, investigations, lawsuits and a massive overhaul of the department guided by recommendations made via the city’s fire review team.

Today, despite initial resistance that often accompanies change within the fire service, the CFD is a new department in many positive ways. Of course, there’s still much work to be done, but Charleston has come a very long way from the evening of June 18, 2007, due in no small part to the efforts of long-serving members as well as some new faces.

“You know, we’re operating the best we possibly can in a scenario in which we don’t have a contract, we don’t have binding arbitration, we basically have a handshake agreement,” Haigler adds. “But Chiefs Carr, Tippett and Finley (Deputy Chief of Administration) come out to the stations and chat with me and other members of the executive board. They have a real sense of caring for us now that we never had in the past.”

Despite much-needed progress, Haigler admits there’s a distinct level of fragility felt among the group, more so this year than last, and for varying reasons. “Some don’t like the change, some are struggling with the new day-to-day life,” he says. But he adds that the CFD continues to march onward. “We’re still putting out fires, we’re not losing whole blocks to fire or anything like that. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we need to be patient, see what’s happening, give it a chance, and if it doesn’t work, administration agrees to make some changes.”

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to fully realizing the impact of that lesson is the fear of change. But, as demonstrated in Charleston, as well as other incidents, resistance to change can be deadly for the fire service. “You do things the way you’ve always done them, and you say you don’t need to try out the new stuff because ‘what works here works here,’” Haigler says “But you’re one call away from sitting in front of OSHA saying, ‘Oh crap, what did we do wrong?’”

Learning the “new stuff” may be a daunting task, but according to Chief Ghi, stepping out of your comfort zone is a risk worth taking. “I stepped out of my comfort zone in coming here, and I’m excited to be here because I’m learning as much as everyone else,” he says. “Firefighting is a team sport, so you need to be a team player. This means you need to share everything you know. Knowledge is power, but you can increase your power base by sharing your knowledge, because no one knows everything.”

Chief Ghi goes on to note that the risk of not learning is greater than the risk of trying new things. “Your knowledge might save someone’s life. That one little thing you say about ventilation or whatever it is might save someone’s life. So keep learning, keep listening and keep sharing. Pay tribute to those who lost their lives by continuing your education.”

The CFD’s commitment to learning and changing serves as a tribute to the nine members lost inside the Sofa Super Store, but it has also set an example for other departments. “People can change—it’s not easy, but it certainly can be done,” Tippett says. “These people are doing phenomenal things each and every day they come to work, and they’re doing them at a much faster pace and in a more accomplished manner than they give themselves credit for. I couldn’t be more honored to work here.”

In Remembrance
This article is dedicated to the firefighters who gave their lives on June 18, 2007.

Cindy Devone-Pacheco is senior editor for FireRescue magazine.