By Dan McCue

CHARLESTON -- Nine firefighters have died in what Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. described early this morning as the “worst fire in memory” in a city that’s seen its share of fire-related tragedies.

Appearing shaken but calm, Riley described the actions of the deceased firefighters who entered a fully engulfed Sofa Super Store on U.S. Highway 17 South early last night as “courageous and fearless.”

“Their selflessness and sacrifice reminds us of the solemn dedication with which they carry out their duties,” Riley continued. “A loss like this is difficult to fathom or qualify. To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them.”

The fire broke out about 7 p.m. Monday at the large, big box style store and warehouse, and its intensity forced officials to close off a stretch of Highway 17 for several hours. Two employees who were in the building when the blaze started were rescued by city of Charleston firefighters.

The store’s roof collapsed about an hour after firefighters arrived on the scene. According to several news accounts, witnesses said the collapse rained debris over dozens of rescue workers.

The most consistent description of the conflagration was that it appeared as if the building were engulfed in a “30-foot tornado of flames.”

“Again, that just re-enforces one’s sense of the professionalism of these men,” Riley said. “There’s a raging fire and they go toward it.”

This morning, firefighters saluted as the bodies of their colleagues were taken from the warehouse and transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for identification.

Family members have been notified of the tragedy, but the county coroner had not yet disclosed the victims’ names as of this morning.

At least one worker and two firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.