Charleston marks 5th anniversary of deadly fire

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — An observance in Charleston recalls nine firefighters killed while fighting a furniture store blaze.

It’s been five years since the June 2007 fire, which at the time was the largest loss of firefighters since the 2011 terror attacks on the World Trade Center.

The department is organizing a public memorial Monday at the site of the former Sofa Super Store.

Gov. Nikki Haley also ordered the lowering of the flags at the Statehouse on Monday. On her Facebook page, Haley asked that people say a prayer and thank all first responders.

The Charleston fire is thought to have been started by discarded cigarettes in a loading dock. Fire experts hired by the city concluded that inadequate training, outdated tactics and aging equipment contributed to the deaths.