City To Release Final NIOSH Report Later Today

The City of Charleston’s Fire Department will release the final report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at 2 p.m.

The report stems from the June 18, 2007 death of nine Charleston fire fighters who were trying to battle a blaze at the West Ashley Sofa Super Store. Other investigations have suggested the fire was caused by an errant cigarette and that the resulting deaths were likely due to a mixture of circumstance, environment, and deficiencies in department training and equipment.

The NIOSH report is expected to offer recommendations on what the department can do in the future to avoid a similar tragedy.