9 Firefighters Perish in Charleston

That is the latest report on the terrible Charleston fire in West Ashley last night. I was directed to this site by Heather at lowcountry blogs:

The Sofa Super Store in West Ashley was destroyed by fire Monday
night while hundreds of onlookers watched.
The store and warehouse at 8107
Savannah Highway caught fire shortly after 6:30 p.m. A large plume of smoke
could be seen from as far away as Ladson.
The roof collapsed and sent a
roaring ball of burning debris rolling over the top of about two-dozen rescue
workers.
Hundreds of onlookers were pelted with hot ash.
Mark Hilton of
Ridgeville said he could feel the sting as a piece of ash went in an eye. He was
mesmerized by the site of the large furniture store and its adjacent warehouse
ablaze.

My friend Susan, who works in West Ashley says she didn't know about the fire until she got home after nine and saw it on the news.