The long-awaited Phase II report on last year's Sofa Superstore fire wasn't to be released for another 24 hours when the first head rolled.
Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas will resign in the wake of the warehouse blaze that killed nine Charleston firefighters.
Thomas left a note this week saying he was retiring effective June 27. In the note, Thomas said the only way for the fire department to heal itself would be if he stepped aside.
In truth, Thomas' resignation was expected -- though the question of whether to keep him on the job was a big one in last year's mayoral election. Although Mayor Joe Riley vowed to stand by his chief -- in contrast with his biggest opponents -- many expected the mayor to toss Thomas under the bus at the most convenient opportunity anyway.
It's true that when nine firefighters die in what started as a trash fire that went terribly wrong, changes must be made. Someone must go, even if getting rid of the leader is merely a symbolic move. Really, it's the same rationale that triggers all man-at-the-top personnel changes, from a coup d'etat to firing a baseball manager.
hough it appears Thomas beat everyone to the punch here, it's not really all that important whether he went out the door on his own or was pushed.
By all accounts Thomas is a good man, generally well-liked and respected. Although his fate was sealed as soon as word came out that firefighters were dead in the Sofa Superstore, you know he wasn't thinking about unemployment or anything else as the warehouse collapsed into flames. He wasn't thinking about his own future when thousands of firefighters came from all over the nation -- and world -- to pay their respects to the Charleston Nine. There's no way. No man worthy of the title is that cold.
Listening to Thomas in the weeks following the tragedy, you knew it really tore him up to lose nine of his men. He couldn't have been thinking about losing his job at that point. No way.
Thomas was right to resign. And again, that's his humanness talking. There's no way he could keep a business-as-usual attitude after losing nine of his men. He said the tragedy had "forever changed" him; again, totally expected. This is something he will always live with, and you know it will affect his performance should he continue to go to that job.
He does merit plenty of criticism for the way the Sofa Superstore fire evolved the way it did. Reports say the Charleston Fire Department was a hidebound organization, fighting fires the way they used to with little regard for new methods or training. Equipment had been lacking, and the general aggressive method of firefighting just doesn't cut it any more. As chief, Mr. Thomas knows he set the tone, and nine firefighters are now dead. This has to keep him up nights.
This is something no man should live with, let alone be reminded of it every time he goes to work. And that's what would be happening if he continued on the job.
Thomas said his "retirement" -- forget that word; he's barely 50, a few months younger than I -- is the only way for the department to heal. It may also be the only way that Rusty Thomas, the man, can heal. After nine deaths on his watch, he'll need it.
=============
Again, although the firefighters will forever be collectively known as the Charleston Nine, these men had names, families, dreams, and lives. And again, here are the men we're talking about:
* Brad Baity, 37. Nine years on the job.
* Mike Benke, 49. With the department for 29 years.
* Melvin Champaign, 46. A relative newcomer; two years with the department.
* James "Earl" Drayton, 56. From Station 19, a 32-year veteran with the fire department, retired several times and came back.
* Michael French, 27.
* Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48. With the department 30 years.
* Mark Kelsey, 40. A 12-year veteran.
* Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34. A firefighter for 11 years.
* Brandon Thompson, 27. With the Charleston department for four years, but something of a "young veteran" — helping out fire crews as a volunteer since he was 14 and was a captain with the Pine Ridge fire agency.
Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas will resign in the wake of the warehouse blaze that killed nine Charleston firefighters.
Thomas left a note this week saying he was retiring effective June 27. In the note, Thomas said the only way for the fire department to heal itself would be if he stepped aside.
In truth, Thomas' resignation was expected -- though the question of whether to keep him on the job was a big one in last year's mayoral election. Although Mayor Joe Riley vowed to stand by his chief -- in contrast with his biggest opponents -- many expected the mayor to toss Thomas under the bus at the most convenient opportunity anyway.
It's true that when nine firefighters die in what started as a trash fire that went terribly wrong, changes must be made. Someone must go, even if getting rid of the leader is merely a symbolic move. Really, it's the same rationale that triggers all man-at-the-top personnel changes, from a coup d'etat to firing a baseball manager.
hough it appears Thomas beat everyone to the punch here, it's not really all that important whether he went out the door on his own or was pushed.
By all accounts Thomas is a good man, generally well-liked and respected. Although his fate was sealed as soon as word came out that firefighters were dead in the Sofa Superstore, you know he wasn't thinking about unemployment or anything else as the warehouse collapsed into flames. He wasn't thinking about his own future when thousands of firefighters came from all over the nation -- and world -- to pay their respects to the Charleston Nine. There's no way. No man worthy of the title is that cold.
Listening to Thomas in the weeks following the tragedy, you knew it really tore him up to lose nine of his men. He couldn't have been thinking about losing his job at that point. No way.
Thomas was right to resign. And again, that's his humanness talking. There's no way he could keep a business-as-usual attitude after losing nine of his men. He said the tragedy had "forever changed" him; again, totally expected. This is something he will always live with, and you know it will affect his performance should he continue to go to that job.
He does merit plenty of criticism for the way the Sofa Superstore fire evolved the way it did. Reports say the Charleston Fire Department was a hidebound organization, fighting fires the way they used to with little regard for new methods or training. Equipment had been lacking, and the general aggressive method of firefighting just doesn't cut it any more. As chief, Mr. Thomas knows he set the tone, and nine firefighters are now dead. This has to keep him up nights.
This is something no man should live with, let alone be reminded of it every time he goes to work. And that's what would be happening if he continued on the job.
Thomas said his "retirement" -- forget that word; he's barely 50, a few months younger than I -- is the only way for the department to heal. It may also be the only way that Rusty Thomas, the man, can heal. After nine deaths on his watch, he'll need it.
=============
Again, although the firefighters will forever be collectively known as the Charleston Nine, these men had names, families, dreams, and lives. And again, here are the men we're talking about:
* Brad Baity, 37. Nine years on the job.
* Mike Benke, 49. With the department for 29 years.
* Melvin Champaign, 46. A relative newcomer; two years with the department.
* James "Earl" Drayton, 56. From Station 19, a 32-year veteran with the fire department, retired several times and came back.
* Michael French, 27.
* Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48. With the department 30 years.
* Mark Kelsey, 40. A 12-year veteran.
* Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34. A firefighter for 11 years.
* Brandon Thompson, 27. With the Charleston department for four years, but something of a "young veteran" — helping out fire crews as a volunteer since he was 14 and was a captain with the Pine Ridge fire agency.
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