Officials: Deadly S.C. Store Blaze Started on Loading Dock

The furniture store blaze that killed nine Charleston, S.C. city firefighters started on a loading dock, federal investigators said.

The loading dock was a covered space between the showroom and the warehouse of the Sofa Super Store, which burned on the night of June 18 in the single worst loss of firefighters’ lives since the Sept. 11 attacks.

The area housed a trash bin and was used to store old furniture that was to be thrown away. It also was frequented by employees on their cigarette breaks, one store worker has told The Associated Press.