City holds memorial for fallen firefighters

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The city of Charleston will hold a memorial for the firefighters who died last June 18th in a furniture store fire. A one-hour public service is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gaillard Auditorium. City offices will be closed until noon so employees may attend. At 7:30 p.m., co-workers and families of those who died will gather for a private ceremony at the site of the fire, which the city now owns. The fire last year resulted in the largest loss of firefighters since the 2001 terror attacks in New York City. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)