Line of Duty Deaths Database

Rodney B. Baity
Name
Rodney B. Baity
Local
L0061, Charleston Fire Fighters Association
Gender
Male
Age
37
District
12
Occupation
Engineer
Type of Duty
Fire Suppression
Fatal Injury Cause
Caught/Trapped - Fire Progress
Nature of Fatal Injury
Other/Miscellaneous - Asphyxiation, Smoke Inhalation
Date of Death
6/18/2007
Year Placed On Wall
2008
Multiple Line of Duty Incident
Name
Charleston 6-07
City/State
Charleston, SC
Date
6/18/2007
Summary
At 1909hrs, the Charleston Fire Department received a report of a fire at the Sofa Super Store, 1807 Savannah Highway, in Charleston. Firefighters arriving on the scene found an exterior fire extending into the interior of the commercial structure. Firefighters at the rear of the structure extended hoselines and fought the exterior and interior fires at that location. Other firefighters entered the front of the structure to search for building occupants and to fight the fire in the front retail area of the store. These firefighters were wearing full structural fire fighting protective clothing and SCBA. While initial conditions inside of the retail area of the store were tenable, conditions quickly worsened as the fire extended from the rear of the store into the retail area of the store. Approximately 20 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene, firefighters in distress could be heard on the radio requesting assistance. Smoke conditions in the interior of the store had worsened significantly and firefighters were unable to find their way to a safe exit. The fire progressed rapidly and completely involved the interior of the store. Nine firefighters were trapped in the structure and were unable to escape. Their bodies were recovered and removed later that night from the structure after the main body of fire was extinguished. Possession of the bodies was taken by the Charleston County Coroner's Office. The cause of death for all nine firefighters was attributed to smoke inhalation and burns.
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Website Comments
It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty deaths of the following nine members of the Charleston Fire Department, South Carolina. They are Fire Fighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56; Captain Theodore M. Benke, 49; and Engineer and local 61 Treasurer Rodney Bradford Baity, 37; Captain William Hutchinson, 48; Captain Louis Mulkey, 34; Engineer Mark Kelsey, 40; Assistant Engineer Michael French, 27; Fire Fighter Melven Champaign, 46; and Fire Fighter Brandon Thompson, 27. They all died on Monday, June 18, 2007 when the roof of a sofa furniture warehouse collapsed while they were trying to put out the blaze.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in honor of the fallen fire fighters at the North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, South Carolina 29418, (843) 529-5050.
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Biographical Comments
Rodney Bradford Baity, now known as one of the Charleston Nine, was always called "Brad". He first started his fire service career in Crash Crew Firefighting Rescue while serving in the Marine Corp. Brad then moved to Charleston, SC and began working for the CFD in September 1998. While there, Brad received his associate's degree in fire science, acquired the rank of Engineer, and served as the treasurer for the Local 61 firefighter union from January 2004 until his death. His fellow firefighters remember him as the smart, soft-spoken guy who always stayed calm, cool, and collected. As a husband and father Brad was a fun, loving, gentle spirit that you could always trust and count on in any situation.
(Submitted by the Baity Family for the 2008 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial)
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