Task Force Issues Preliminary Recommendations for Charleston Fire Department

August 17, 2007 – After an initial review of Charleston Fire Department operations during the June 18 Sofa Store fire that killed nine fire fighters, an independent Fire Review Task Force has issued a preliminary list of recommendations for immediate implementation. 

Roger Yow, president of Charleston, SC Local 61, made this statement today on the report:

“It’s unnerving how quickly the panel came up with such a long list of major deficiencies in the policies set forth by the current Charleston Fire Department leadership and how it’s run. The mayor asked for these recommendations, and now that he has the preliminary ones, for the safety of the fire fighters on the job and the citizens of this city, he needs to implement them right away.

Clearly, these recommendations show conclusively that the leadership at the top of the Charleston Fire Department has been lacking in ability and execution of command for quite some time. Chief Thomas has already been quoted on numerous occasions as saying he does things his way and he’s not going to change. Why would anyone really believe the changes recommended by this independent panel are going to be made without a change in the person who led this department to be in such bad shape to begin with.”

For follow up, Yow can be reached at (843) 830-0393.