Brad, thanks for the support this week. Check the video link to “Thomas Remebers”. I missed the interview on the nightly news and just wanted to see what he has to say. I will tell you this, he has not been my or many others chief for a long time.
JB, I also extend a “Welcome to Charleston”. Tensions have been high for myself and those around me for days, more than the past 52 weeks. I was close to not responding at all but I prefer to be civil as much as possible. If you still don’t understand the failures of Charleston for the past 20 years and on that night, respond, I will be happy to fill you in Thursday.
Again, I do not need a paper to remember nine men’s names unlike Riley and his rediculous speeches.

Welcome to the area JB. I posted the two reports that are out so far in the entry.  In short...that night turned in to a cluster in a hurry.  The two reports say that the CFD’s tactics and equipment were outdated, and that the building was a death trap.

M didn’t mean anythying by his response...we get some comments here from time to time from people who are looking to pick scabs.  He was there that night and is very close to the situation.

Take care this week M.

I’m just trying to understand what happened. I’m completely unbiased. I’m not saying anyone did or didn’t do something wrong. I’m somewhat new to the area so I don’t know the history. I really love Charleston and its FFs. Just trying to understand… As far as I’m concerned, I wish I didn’t have to include the name, sir.

JB: Are you just trying to see your name on a website or are you actually wanting to know?

What specifically did the Department do wrong?

Riley, Thomas, Shriver and Garvin have the of nine all ovet their hands! Hope you can sleep at night! I can’t see how you can have any morals and do what you do! You are all a bunch of uneducated idoits!!!

I just would like to say the Mayor and the soon to be former Chief do have it out for the ones who spoke up and told the truth. The Mayor and the Soon Former Chief were caught with their pants down and now the city councel wants to know more. Well I hope the citizens of Charleston will get rid of that Mayor who seems to be too old for the people there and he needs to stop defending the fire chief. There was not the correct training in place and it was sad because of what NFPA and OSHA have put in place for all of the fire service could not been used in Charleston. If it was in place the nine brothers might have not died. So I not only blame the store owner but the blame needs to shared by the adminstation with the fire department and then the city as a whole!

if this was all so rigged why wasn’t billy bob promoted to captain? and eagle is HIS captain now? sorry to blow all your theories

Question:  When transfer & promation were made prior to this, was the chief getting back at firemen then????

I really think that you’all are reading more in to this than what it is.

Are not all of the charleston firemen family??  No matter where you are transfer to, you would be with family, yes or no?

There is three phases of budget prep. Sometimes it is four depending on your administrator. A proposal is made by the director sometime in February or March a proposed fiscal budget for the upcoming year with salaries and all rolled into it. This sometimes reads line “yes” “no” as to increase wages, new hoses, fuel, and other budgetary items to proved services.  If the Chief put upgrades in his budget over the years and council denies it, then this would have had the proper equipment to fight fire. Although if council never saw fit to advance the service since it had already done a remarkable job so far then why put more money into and just maintain what they already had. Over the next few months proceeding this it is a haggle over nickle and dime items by council trying to save tax base money to put in other areas such as council trying to be everybody’s buddy. Someone should find prior drafts as to what really happened over the years.

M,
Phoenix does have their stuff together. Are they accreditated? Just wondering. Bruno built that place. I cannot remember if they ever did the accreditation.

(!)...Let me clue you in on one thing! The report, which I have throughly read 3 times, said nothing about transfering everyone who came out and told the truth! You must be one of the few who still love the Mayor and his Godson Rusty Thomas. I do not! You ask what I have done, I am an instructor, and tried to get the ones who want to learn into classes and give them the tools needed to survive! Never once did I see anyone of the command staff in any of the classes! Why, because we teach the correct way, not the Charleston way! I question you...what have you done? Support the man who allowed nine men to die or are you behind the mastermind of the entire project? I have worked for govermental bodies for 18 years....and been involved in numerous decision making processes! I know how to make changes! The command staff of the CFD did not want to! We have a slogan for them..."100 years of tradition not impeaded by technology!” I feel so bad for the firefighters that were transfered! That was a cowardly act by the Chief...but then again I would expect nothing less! His time is drawing near...And so will his followers! Believe me...this is not over by a long shot!!! And the good guys will have there day!!! And trust me...Rusty Thomas and Joe Riley are NOT by any stretch of the imagination the good guys! God Bless the 9 and their families!

BA1776: That would be PHX-FD. If you know anything about the fire service or even in it for more than two weeks, you know that they are considered the best in the world. However, unlike CFD, PHX does have it together and do not need to put “CLASS 1 ISO” all over apparatus and uniforms.
I: I thought the report was thorough and was surprised. It accurately showed the f-ups through the entire process. My favorite part was “RT and Garven do not recall ordering the windows taken out”. Funny, I do because I was there when he did and saw them on later on TV pointing out to break them.

Seeing as how I have only lived in the city three years, and come from a true ISO 1 department, I did speak out...nobody listened until it was too late.

What is true ISO 1 department? It is still the same old system. I would not brag about that! Is your previous department accreditated? That is when you know you got your stuff together.

My apologies to M.  You did not have enough time to get anyone to hear you.  Like I said, it usually take a tragedy to get changes.
But now we need constructive suggestions. Not negative comments.  If the chief & the mayor are following the suggestions in the report, why are there so many negative comments.  Did you not agree with the reports?

BC1, what have you done to help improve things??? I’m seeing negative comments but not constructive suggestions. 
If you have worked for a goverment agency for any length of time, you know that it usually take an unfortunate tragedy to get anything done.  Yelling for the mayor and the fire chief to get out of town is not constructive.  Its grandstanding.  It seems to me that the chief & mayor are trying to follow the suggestions from the reports, but as usual there are some people that are not happy and have to whine about it.
Let the chief do his job as long as he is in office.  When the new fire chief is hired, he can make changes, but I bet there will be whines about that too.

Wow...Rusty strikes again! Transfers at a time like this? What a loser! Do you have any idea how thw CISD process work you retard? He has to have barely got out of grammer school! He has no compassion, no forthought on anything and can’t even run a deparment correctly! As for Riley...you need to get the hell out of town! Its obviously you don’t care about the fire department you deaf and blind little man! You are tap-dancing all over the graves of the 9! Mallard...you and the rest of council better grow a pair and stop this before all hell comes down on your city! Be prepared for firefighters from all over to converge on your “HOLY CITY”! And believe me they will make a statement! People are already talking to tourist at you artsy fartsy festival! Rusty....park your “FIRE SUV”, get your small band of loser supporters...leave and prepare for the rath of the civil law process!

Seeing as how I have only lived in the city three years, and come from a true ISO 1 department, I did speak out...nobody listened until it was too late.

Hey M

If you knew this for twenty years, how come you did not say anything before this happened??? Seems to me, you might be feeling a bit guilty.  If you do not like this city, there are others to live in.

Yes, lets keep Riley because his last pick for Chief were a great call. I work in a department and live in a city that is 20 years behind the times and got men killed. How many of you were actually there? How many of you actually care? City council, grow some bollocks and do what is right for the city, not your pockets. And for those of you knocking Lowery, I didn’t know him before June 18 but since then he has been one of the leading forces against stupidity in the city. Progress and changing of the guard is not a bad thing.

I see now the council wants a city manager to hogtie the mayor, because he does not give in to the political bull hockey.  That is what is wrong with our system.  Too many cooks in the kitchen.
Mayor Riley has done the city proud over the many years, and though I do not always agree with him on all things, he’s done what he thinks is best and we as a city have benefited.  We do not need council sticking their pointy little noses into everything.  Twelve heads are definately NOT better than one.

It’s time for the council to pay attention to the taxpayers as a whole and not a few individuals that whine about their lot in life.
Life is not bettered by a comittee.  Tell the whiners to get a grip.

Twelve heads are better than one.>>

Councilman Mallard,
It is obvious you are clueless. Twelve heads have done great so far with the budget! I know for a fact that the council (not you) have known of issues within the department for the past 10 years.

Albright and Wilson should have been their first indication! You and Gallant are cut from the same clothe. You are politically backed into a corner because of your “blinders” to the issues that have OBVIOUSLY been going on for years and now and only now do you decide to (as the illustrious Bush-Man likes to say, MAN UP) and attempt to make a difference.

Same us your sympathy and hit the door like King Joe. The whole lot of you ought to be replaced!

hey jim obviously you have never been around lowery. he is a snake in the grass always has been. i think you should befriend him and let him screw you over like he has everyone else

Having served as the Director of Public Relations for some non-profits in Charleston, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Brad on numerous stories that I wanted on the air. Brad is fair and accurate in his reporting and anchoring skills. He is not afraid to ask the tough questions.

Jim, you seem very critical of Brad’s reporting and that’s too bad because he is a respected journalist and a caring and compassionate member of the Lowcountry. I will not disclose any of his volunteer work, but he gives back to this community. If Brad wants to share his good deeds that up to him.

Let’s not continue the blame game by pointing fingers at the media or our journalists. Let’s place the accountability standard where it belongs, with Chief Thomas, his incident commander the night of the SSS Fire, Mayor Riley and veteran members of Council. The new members of council are still getting a handle on things, so we can cut them a little slack.

I have to applaud Mayor Riley on his interview with Brad.  He was absolutely right on the money.  All of this fingerpoint and political bull hockey has to stop.
As for Rev Gallant, he needs to lose the Reverend title because he has no compassion or empathy.  He just wants to be in the limelight and to see his name in the news.  What kind of reverend goes looking for the supposed bad in a situation instead of the good.  How is he serving his God with that kind of attitude?  I believe he is just serving his own ego.

What right does the council have to 2nd guess promotions within the fire dept?

The promotions had been in the works for a couple months, and it seems to me that Rusty was just completing the process. As the chief has not yet retired , he still has the right to promote and move personel as needed.  They were important postions that need to be filled.  If it had not been done now, it could have been up to a year more before they could have been filled.  What if we had another bad fire and the positions had not been filed and we had more loses?????To me it looks as if he is cleaning up his desk and preparing his office to be handed over to interim chief and ultimately to the new chief.  No matter what you do, you cannot please everyone.  Chief Thomas needs our respect, our compassion, not to be kicked while he is down.  Everyone thinks that they could have done better, but then again hindsight is alway 20/20.