Mayor to release city report on fatal Charleston blaze

http://www.charlotte.com/205/story/611724.html

Posted on Tue, May. 06, 2008

CHARLESTON, S.C. --
Mayor Joe Riley said Tuesday he would soon release a long-awaited report on the deaths of nine firefighters in last year's furniture store blaze, after firefighters and the victims' families criticized waiting longer for federal reports.

The report by a city-appointed panel of outside experts is expected to explain the circumstances of the June 18 Sofa Super Store fire.

Riley had announced last week he would delay its release until two federal probes into the blaze were complete, upsetting firefighters and families of the men who died. The head of the International Association of Fire Fighters told The (Charleston) Post and Courier that the mayor was orchestrating a "cover-up" that endangered firefighters' lives.

On Tuesday, Riley relented and said the report would be released May 15. He said the victims' families and those still on the job couldn't wait any longer for answers.

The "disappointment that I sensed in our fire department and from the families of our fallen firefighters was so substantial, and the skepticism and potential distrust that could result" made it imperative not to delay the release, Riley said.

Riley, who began his ninth term as mayor in January, said his opinion was swayed by two moments. First, he heard from the city's liaison for the victims' families about one widow who did not agree that waiting was the best course. Then Riley visited a fire station and found similar views from those on the job.

FULL story at link.