CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Victims of the massive South Park fire and first responders were honored Thursday.
Community leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Councilmember Tariq Bokhari, led a moment of silence in memory of Demonte Sherrill and Ruben Holmes during this week's SouthPark After 5 concert.
First responders from the Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and MEDIC were also honored.
Thursday's ceremony at Symphony Park recognized the first 30 firefighters on the initial call, including stations 2, 12, 14 and 16, plus Rescue 10, battalion chiefs 1 and 5 and Deputy Chief Samuel Jones.
Last week, SouthPark After 5 was canceled due to the tragedy, but Adam Rhew with SouthPark Community Partners said there's a bigger goal this week.
"We wanted to have that moment, bring those first responders out here, see the community support," Rhew said.
There was a banner at the entrance. Hundreds of people signed the banner thanking the first responders for their service.
Jennifer Coat's husband is at Charlotte Fire Station 16 and remembers the day of the fire like it was yesterday. She said it was a scary day, but since then the community has supported her husband and fellow firefighters more than she could have imagined.
“People are showing their gratitude and it makes me very proud of them," Coat said.
Over 90 firefighters from the Charlotte Fire Department rescued 15 people from the construction site. The two men who died were unable to get out of the fire, officials said.
Firefighters were trying to reach the two trapped construction workers, but firefighters had to declare their own "mayday" during the rescue attempt.
"They were searching in an area obviously with limited visibility," Charlotte Fire Department Chief Reginald Johnson explained Friday.
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