First Coast Firefighters Raise Money for the Charleston Nine

ORANGE PARK, FL -- Firefighters from Orange Park and JFRD are biking to Charleston, South Carolina, to raise money for the families of the nine firefighters killed in a warehouse fire last year.

The Brotherhood Ride 2008 is a nine day ride, with each day dedicated to one of the nine fallen firefighters.

Nearly two dozen firefighters pedaled through Jacksonville Wednesday.

The Brotherhood Ride started last weekend in Naples, Florida. Jeff Morse with the North Naples Fire Department is coordinating the ride.

"When you have a fire with nine firefighters dying, not only does it make us stop and think, but it makes our families stop and think about it," Morse told First Coast News while making a stop in Orange Park.

Morse says each day starts by paying respect to one of the fallen Charleston firefighters.

"Every morning before leaving we dedicate day to him and at night when we arrive at our next stop we put that person to rest."

The brotherhood riders will arrive in Charleston on Sunday.

Firefighters from as far away as Texas and Ohio are taking part in the ride.

The deadly blaze on June 18, 2007, was the nation's worst loss of firefighters since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

An analysis released by fire experts found firefighters did not follow standard safety practices and had obsolete equipment when battling the Sofa Super Store fire.

Fire Chief Rusty Thomas announced his retirement before the report was released.

The mayor of Charleston has blamed the store owner for the deaths, saying illegal additions to the building turned a small trash fire into a raging inferno.

There are plans to make the Brotherhood Ride an annual event, with each ride raising funds for the families of firefighters, EMS workers or police in different locations.

You can make a donation at brotherhoodride.com.