Local News

Firefighter's Families React To NIOSH Report

Marika Kelderman, Live 5 News

The parents of Captain Louis Mulkey didn't know exactly what there son had been doing in the Sofa Super Store until the release of the report last night.

"I had initially thought Louis was in there without a hose, that he was on search and rescue but then when I read the report he had gone in with an inch and a half hose," said his father Mike.

Mr. Mulkey is quick to point out that the report is a draft and has some errors but says it does provide new and clearer insight into what happened on June 18, 2007.

"I had a hard time comprehending some of the command decisions that were made during the course of the fire," he said.

The report created a chilling feeling for a mother now reading about how different decisions could have possibly saved her child's life.

"The hardest thing for me and Michael is the fact that they were allowed to stay in that building. They should have been brought out immediately," said Louis's mother Ann.

The Mulkey's believe someone needs to be held accountable for what happened the night their son died but for now they're standing behind Chief Rusty Thomas.

"I think if anybody could roll with a punches, Rusty has shown an amazing ability to do that even in the middle of all his grief he's been able to act as the Chief," said Mike Mulkey.

The Mulkey's continue to grieve but are thankful that the death toll didn't rise to the Charleston 15 as the report details it very easily could have. Six firefighters narrowly escape the burning building including two men that went in alongside Louis Mulkey.

"I don't know what we would have done had we lost more because they are like sons to us. They're our boys and I don't know what we would have done," said Ann Mulkey.

As the release of more reports are still to come the Mulkey's only hope they act as lesson's for the future.

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