9 Hero's Perish In A Blaze Of Glory Poem by Luke Easter

Captain’s, William Hutchinson, Mike Benke, Louis Mulkey,
Engineer’s, Michael French, Bradford Baity, Mark Kelsey,
Firefighter’s, James Draton, Brandon Thompson, Melvin Champaign,
Common denominator? These are Charleston S.C. Hero’s Names.

A furniture store, no problem, the fire department is on it’s way,
28-year old Jonathan Tyrrell was trapped inside the deadly blaze,
911, a voice from the department told him exactly what he must do,
Too lightheaded, only remembering two strong hands pulling him through.

A routine fire for just over 131 total years of service they’d seen it before,
Window here, wall there, just save an employee lying down on the floor,
Experience, best of training, friends, how could there be something more?
This time the fire had a mind of it’s own raging deep within the furniture store.

Mandatory sprinklers in older buildings failed in Legislature two years before,
I wonder what those who voted no are saying today behind closed doors?
This is where I would start my investigation, finding out on what authority?
9 lives were lost, Captain’s, Engineer’s, Firefighter’s,3,3, and 3.

A so-called super store became an inferno with 1000-degree heat,
Causing steel beams to twist spreading so fast, no chance for a retreat,
Not that these brave individuals would have been the kind to run and hide,
Only to regroup with plan “B”, fighting in another direction once outside.

The rescued employee from 6/18/2007: along with his daughter and wife,
On Wednesday arrived at Station No.16 ever so grateful for his life,
It is the worse loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 terrorist attack,
Hopefully, next time suits in the Legislature will have their back.

Was this arson, an accident, what in the heck could go wrong?
Trained officers no less, one-day after Father’s Day, now they are gone?
Finger pointing already, he said, she said, why were these decisions made?
Too bad cops can’t handcuff the flames and interrogate the blaze.

Homeland Security, CIA, FBI, local and state police patrol for peace,
Satellites, monitors, cameras, motion detectors, dogs & cops on the beat,
Sensor beams, intelligence, shared information, in unison working hard,
Who could ever imagine nine would lose their lives in our own backyard?