Yesterday, a commemoration was held for the fifth anniversary of the Sofa Super Store fire, in which nine Charleston firefighters were lost, the greatest single lost of firefighters in the United States since September 11. Interim Fire Chief William Finley Jr. read the list of names aloud: Capt. Mike Benke, Capt. Billy Hutchinson, Capt. Louis Mulkey, Engineer Brad Baity, Engineer Mark Kelsey, Assistant Engineer Michael French, Firefighter Melvin Champaign, Firefighter Earl Drayton, and Firefighter Brandon Thompson.
