Charleston Sofa Super Store fire
The center of the Sofa Super Store showroom the day after the fire | |
Location of the former Charleston Sofa Super Store site; now turned into a memorial park | |
| Date | June 18, 2007 – June 19, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Time | 7:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m |
| Location | 1807 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 32°47′16″N 80°01′20″W / 32.787786°N 80.022147°W |
| Cause | Unknown, suspected to be from a negligently discarded cigarette |
| Deaths | 9 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 18 |
| Property damage | Total loss of building and warped siding on neighbor's house from the heat. |
The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire was a firefighting accident that occurred on the evening of June 18, 2007, in Charleston, South Carolina, resulting in the deaths of nine firefighters. It was the deadliest firefighter disaster in the US since the September 11 attacks. The fire, which started in the loading dock of the furniture store, rapidly spread to the main showroom and warehouse, leading to a catastrophic structural collapse. Despite initial firefighting efforts and rescue attempts, the poor water supply and lack of fire sprinkler systems contributed to the incident. The site was cleared after the fire, and a new fire station was constructed nearby.