October 28, 2010- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its long-awaited report on the Sofa Super Store fire, which took the lives of nine Charleston, South Carolina fire fighters on June 18, 2007.

The NIST report is an exhaustive analysis of the development and spread of the fire through the Sofa Super Store and documents in sad detail the spread of the fire from an exterior trash pile, into a storage room, and eventually throughout the structure.

The report shows that the fire spread into the main body of the store in the space above the ceiling, out of the view of fire fighters. The spread of the fire was slowed by the limited oxygen supply in the store until the front windows were broken out and allowed access to fresh air.

“The IAFF recognizes that this scientific effort focused on fire development and spread in the building, and is silent about fire fighting actions, tactics and command decisions,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “But it is a sobering reminder of the hazards that our fire fighters face in every community, every single day.”

In its report, NIST did recognize that shortages in staffing and deployed resources were major factors in the tragedy. The report states that:

“The initial response of the fire department included two engine companies, a ladder truck company, and a battalion chief. With an engineer, a fire fighter, and an officer on each apparatus, the fire department’s initial response was 10 people. A comprehensive risk management plan developed according to NFPA 1500 for the Sofa Super Store would likely have identified it as a high hazard occupancy due to the lack of sprinklers and the presence of large open areas and a large fuel load. For high hazard occupancies, NFPA 1710 advocates a minimum crew size of five to six members for each apparatus, which for this incident would amount to 16 to 19 people for the initial response.”

Fortunately, many positive changes have been made within the fire department since the tragedy. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley made significant changes in the leadership of the department, including hiring Fire Chief Tom Carr.

Most of the earlier recommendations addressing fire fighter safety from earlier reports have been implemented. The IAFF will continue to work with the Charleston Fire Department, Charleston Local 61 and NIST to analyze the report’s findings and recommendations.

“We will support any and all actions that make the jobs of fire fighters safer,” Schaitberger says.

The IAFF strongly recommends that all federal, state, provincial and local governments review the NIST report and implement the live-saving recommendations that NIST has made. Click here for the full report and additional documents.