Charleston Store

Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire



Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire

Introduction

This paper will discuss about the incidence caused at Charleston Sofa Super Store. It was a huge fire incident that occurred on June 18, 2007, in the Sofa Super Store at 1807 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina. In this incident, nine fire fighters from the Charleston Fire Department were trapped in the showrooms and lost their lives in the fire (FEMA, USFA, NFA & 1991).

There was a study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in which they studied the causes and consequences of the rapid fire that led to much causality. NIST is a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The purpose of NIST building and fire safety studies is to use knowledge gained from the studies to help improve safety through recommended changes to codes, standards, and practices. NIST does not have the legal authority to make findings of fault nor negligence by individuals or organizations (FEMA, USFA & NFA, 2004).

We will be discussing in our paper on the most important of these procedures and codes, and which serves as the basic procedures that can use some of it with other procedures, and where there is no specific conduct fit for all situations similar to the emergency. What is included in this section is a proposed guide for the disposal of in such situations, but remain in each case special status, which may necessitate a different way to act.

It is the privilege and basic right of every individual living in this world to live a happy, healthy and safe life. In order to fulfill this objective there are certain measures that most of the people take. One such measure is of availability of well designed and safe infrastructure dwelling. Safety is one of the core concerns for most of the people. Considering this safety factor, first thing that comes to mind is of susceptibility of fire burning. Many apartments, housing societies and construction companies consider this element of fire burning and take measures while designing the architectural plan to prevent this element. Not only this, but this element is so significant that even United States Fire Administration has devised proper laws and codes for the prevention of this issue.

Event History

The deaths of nine fire fighters on June 18, 2007, in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire was the single greatest loss of life for the fire service in the United States since 343 fire fighters died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. For South Carolina, this fire was the deadliest fire since 11 people died in the Lancaster County Jail fire on Dec. 27, 1979 (FEMA, USFA & NFA, 2004).

The fire and resulting structure loss at the Sofa Super Store involved the main and west showrooms, repair areas, and warehouse. The only section of the store that did not collapse was the east showroom where the fire spread was limited to the rear ...