The Charleston 9 Memorial

On June 18, 2007 nine firefighters perished in the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston, South Carolina. Once the memorial plans were finalized, Chief Huber gathered a team of Loveland-Symmes firefighters and the crew made the trip to Charleston for the memorial service.

A Memorial to the Charleston 9

Upon their return, the department decided to memorialize the Charleston firefighters at the Loveland-Symmes Firefighter’s Memorial located in downtown Loveland. On September 11, 2007 a plaque dedicated to the memory of the nine firefighters who died in the line of duty in Charleston, South Carolina on June 18, 2007, was dedicated during the annual September 11th memorial service.

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The memorial is etched on granite at the Loveland Firefighters Memorial. The Firefighters who are memorialized include:

  • Captain Theodore Michael Benke
  • Captain William Hutchinson
  • Captain Louis Mulkey
  • Assistant Engineer Michael French
  • Firefighter Brandon Thompson
  • Firefighter James Allen Drayton
  • Engineer Rodney B. Baity
  • Firefighter Melvin Champaign
  • Engineer Mark Kelsey

Addition of Names

In 2011, the department decided to add names of local firefighters that had been killed in the line of duty. After speaking with the families, three names were added to our Memorial. While some of us may not have known these firefighters, we all lost a brother and sister when they died. That is a pain that is felt throughout the fire service when a firefighter is killed.

On September 11, 2011 the following names were unveiled to the public in special ceremony:

  • Captain Robin Broxterman-Zang, Colerain Township Fire Department
  • Lieutenant Paul Montavon, Whitewater Township Fire Department
  • Firefighter Oscar Armstrong, Cincinnati Fire Division

Visit the Park

We encourage you to stop by our park anytime to take in the emotions of this solemn place. We are very proud of the Memorial and everything is stands for.

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