9 Firefighters Die In Collapse of Burning Store

Last night, 9 firefighters were caught in a collapse of a burning furniture store in Charleston, SC, and lost their lives. They are:

• Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson
  • Age: 48
  • Years with department: 30
• Capt. Mike Benke
  • Age: 49
  • Years with department: 29 years
• Capt. Louis Mulkey
  • Age: 34
  • Years with department: 11 1/2 years
• Engineer Mark Kelsey
  • Age: 40
  • Years with department: 12 1/2 years
• Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, Nine years
  • Age: 37
  • Years with department: 9
• Assistant Engineer Michael French
  • Age: 27
  • Years with department: 1 1/2 years
• Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton
  • Age: 56
  • Years with department: 32 years
• Firefighter Brandon Thompson
  • Age: 27
  • Years with department: Four years
• Firefighter Melven Champaign
  • Age: 46
  • Years with department: Two years

Please pray for their families. These men lost their lives as heroes. They went BACK IN to look for other trapped in the burning store.