Nine firefighters killed
The week's news at a glance.
Charleston, S.C.
Nine Charleston firefighters died this week when the roof of a burning furniture warehouse collapsed on them. With the exception of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, it marks the single greatest loss of firefighters in the U.S. in three decades. Witnesses said the blaze spread quickly throughout the building, which did not have a sprinkler system, and that flames seemed to appear out of nowhere. Local teacher Mark Hilton said that as he watched the warehouse burn, “I saw a fireman come out bawling his eyes out. It was then that I knew something bad had happened.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
China looms large over India and Pakistan’s latest violence
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Beijing may not have had troops on the ground. But as South Asia's two nuclear powers bared their teeth over Kashmir, China eyed opportunity in its own backyard
-
What's wrong with America's air traffic control systems?
Today's Big Question The radios and radar keep going out at Newark International
-
8 splashy items to elevate any pool party
The Week Recommends Fire up the snow cone machine, and turn on that outdoor movie projector