It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. Since 2003, the approach of the anniversary of the Station fire, where she and her twin sister, Cara Ann, got out unhurt while 100 others died and about 200 more were injured, was four weeks of dread. He was the. And I'm like, "OK.". "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. [48] Larocque had set various capacities for the Station in the years prior to the fire based on whether pool tables and other items could be moved. Patrick Lynch: Again, any reference in this conversation about what the brothers say, I I take a step back and think I don't really trust it. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. Michael Derderian: Correct. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling. Scott James: You have four exits. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? [49][50], Lynch told 48 Hours that his investigation found that the fire spread quickly due to the foam the Derderians had installed in the Station's walls and ceilings as a response to noise complaints. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. [21], Among those who died in the fire were Great White guitarist Ty Longley, and the show's emcee, WHJY DJ Mike "The Doctor" Gonsalves. Susan Nicol. Russell 's bandmate Ty Longley (guitar) was one of the people who perished in The Station blaze, which became the fourth deadliest fire in U.S. history. [22] During the performance, pyrotechnics set off by tour manager Daniel Biechele ignited the flammable acoustic foam on both sides and the top center of the drummer's alcove at the back of the stage. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? There had to be that period for me. I couldn't hear noise. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. And a quarter of those people didn't get to go home ever," says survivor Linda Saran, who was severely burned in the fire at The Station nightclub. [83], In June 2003, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation (SFMF) was formed with the purpose of purchasing the property, to build and maintain a memorial. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. I needed for that day to come, she said. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. She got out. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. Nothing lifts his despair. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. The morning after the fire, the lead singer of Great White, Jack Russell, claimed the brothers had given the band permission to set off the fireworks. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. I'll be right back." [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. ", "20 years later, the effects of the Station nightclub fire still linger - The Boston Globe", "The Great White Nightclub Fire: Ten Years Later", "In West Warwick firefighters' hearts, the disaster isn't over", "How a West Warwick restaurant became a triage center for burn victims", "20th anniversary of New England nightclub fire that killed 100", "State supreme court to review penalty for employee deaths in R.I. fire - UPI.com", "Workers comp. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. View All 100 Memorials for the The Station Nightclub Fire Site. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? And I fell down the stairs, out that door. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. It couldnt continue another 10, 15 years, it couldnt. It was criminal, he says. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The Station nightclub fire, where 100 people died and hundreds more were hurt, will never be forgotten by those who were there or lost loved ones that February night.. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. [4] In 1985, it was converted to a pub, which closed sometime in the late 1980s, and a nightclub was opened in its place in 1991. Phil Barr: Yep. You take one square inch of the foam, you hold it up with a roach clip and light it on fire with a wooden match. I remember getting pushed from behind. [76] The Rhode Island state fire code was changed after the fire to require every nightclub in the state with a capacity of over 150 people to have a sprinkler system installed.[3]. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. Great White was part of the lawsuit. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. Jim Axelrod: Mr. Warner's fax wasn't presented to the grand jury, correct? Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. She endured more than 50 operations. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. Jody King: As I went by the fire station fire trucks are coming out Now the question in my head is why are all these firetrucks leaving? At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) Gina Russo, who survived The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick in 2003, spoke with NBC 10's Mario Hilario on the morning of the 20th anniversary of the. And I hear [moves her arms to the side with a whoosh] and out Deb went. [62], In a letter to the victims' families, Judge Darigan wrote that he accepted the deal because he wanted to avoid "Public exposition of the tragic, explicit and horrific events experienced by the victims of this fire, both living and dead. This is a massive part of my life. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. Do you understand that anger? into the main barroom. "[91], Two years to the day after the fire, band members Russell and Kendall, along with Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live with three survivors of the fire and the father of Longley, to discuss how their lives had changed since the incident. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. And I was responsible for the day to day. The fire was the fourth-deadliest at a nightclub in U.S. history, and the second-deadliest in New England, behind the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire, which resulted in 492 deaths. Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . They are speaking out about the fire for the first time. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. One near the bar. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud night. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. Jason Hahn. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. So, it was very quickly they were in the circle of people we should look at. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. And people just stood there. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. [2] The three were each charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in violation of a misdemeanor. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. [21] Twenty seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing and lead singer Jack Russell calmly remarked into the microphone, "Wow that's not good. Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter. It was really everything to me at that time. At least 64 others were also sued, including the state of Rhode Island citedforthe fire inspector's failure to report the flammable foam during multiple inspections. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [102] It is left for each state or local jurisdiction to legally enact and enforce the current code changes. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. Jody King: They blamed three. [9] Jeffrey Derderian said the door was also installed due to noise, and they had removed it as asked, but sometimes re-installed it if the venue was going to be loud that night, and it was used by the band to escape the building during the fire. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. We screwed up." The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". It was completely preventable. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. The Station nightclub in West Warwick burned down on Feb. 20, 2003, during a concert by rock band Great White, leaving 100 people dead and more than 200 injured. Michael Derderian: He finds the deficiencies, you have to correct the deficiencies and then signs off so that you so you can get your liquor license that happened in 2000. They would want to talk, she said, and they wouldnt freak. ", Scott James: They had their moments. Season 1. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. Gina Russo has no clear memory of how, with her hair on fire, she got out of the Station nightclub the night of Feb. 20, 2003. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. It justit was so fast. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. Jody King: I see the horror. "We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out," says Jody King, whose brother worked at The Station as a bouncer. [21] The flames were initially thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to bank down did people realize it was uncontrolled. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . We have an exit through the kitchen. [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. I had no control over my muscles. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. But does that mean it's not a crime? That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. The Foam.". In the aftermath, Vanner battled an addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol, which he used to cope but which cost him jobs and his drivers license. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." I went around back. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. He was the. They all came so every single one of those hundred students held up a white rose and they represented one of the 100 [who died]. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. Why had the fire spread so quickly? You were not approaching that area at all. Isn't that an important fact in determining who's at fault? In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. That was in like the 80s. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. The brothers have since learned that the fire marshal should have tested the foam on the wall. Phil Barr: and I felt the door and I just heaved my shoulder into it. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of the Station, pleaded no contest and avoided a trial: Michael received the same sentence as Biechele and was released from prison in 2009, while Jeffrey received a sentence of 500 hours of community service. [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. These days, she uses her job as a teacher at John F. Deering Middle School to make it so those who didnt suffer so directly will remember it too. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. He still remembers that deadly night. [15][16] All the members of Trip escaped the Station without injury, but two members of Fathead, cousins Keith and Steven Mancini, died in the fire. [90] The band initially retired "Desert Moon", the song they were performing when the fire began, from their concert set list. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. Patrick Lynch: I don't think there's any question that had that door not been up a significant number of people would have survived. He says he managed to escape through the front door before a stampede of people got stuck in the narrow hallway and blocked the exit. [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the Station nightclub fire, one of the deadliest blazes to ever occur at a nightclub in the United States. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years . There was no one coming out the back door anymore. [35], The fire, from its inception, was caught on videotape by cameraman Brian Butler for WPRI-TV of Providence, and the beginning of that tape was released to national news stations. [79], The site of the fire was cleared, and a multitude of crosses were placed as memorials, left by loved ones of the deceased. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. Jeff Derderian: I don't know. On Feb. 20, 2003, 100 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured in a fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. [14] In the aftermath of the fire, Great White and the owners of the Station disputed whether the band were allowed to use the pyrotechnic display during their concert. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? At first, there was no panic. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. [6], Great White, the headlining band of the February 20 concert, had risen to fame as part of the glam metal scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. I can't speak Everything was, you know, sore and hoarse I picked up the pen in very weak, you know, kind of handwriting I wrote, "I hope to make progress every day.". The roof was caving in, walls were caving in, body after body in front of me. She took a photograph of the stone of a man who died and sent it to his daughter in California. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? Vanner has no excuses. Scott James: And the nightclub operator there was so angry when he saw what had happened in Rhode Island, he went public, and he even made public the contract that he had with Great White that showed there was no evidence of fireworks that were going to be part of the show. Everybody just kind of turned. Patrick Lynch: Not only was the door up, which it shouldn't have been, opened inward which it shouldn't have It was covered in foam. Linda Saran: My hospital roommate, he and I took turns driving the respiratory therapist crazy in some ways it's almost like being in war together. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. I don't even like to talk about it. "[58] The state parole board received approximately twenty letters, the majority of which expressed their sympathy and support for Biechele, some going as far as to describe him as a "scapegoat" with limited responsibility. So that was huge.. [43][45], An investigation of the fire by a Rhode Island state grand jury was started by then-Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch on February 26, 2003. One guy did crawl out. These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. Jeff Derderian: Why is it OK that the fire marshal is allowed to miss something or make a mistake and what he did was just an oops, but what we did was criminal? John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. He doesn't know. For people to know you can go there now and look at this beautiful park and talk to your person thats what I love about it.. Linda Saran: Yes. Their story starts three years before the fire. Jeff Derderian: There's so many things that factor into the decision to do that. Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. It did not. It took a while, she said, but she thinks she had found the way to move on from it but to keep it with her as well. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for Great White who had ignited the pyrotechnics, plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2006 and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with four to serve. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. A staggering 100 lives were lost. Nine friends didnt. 9. It was that fast. Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. "Literally laid there and said, 'God please just take care of my family,' because I knew I was going to die,'" survivor Linda Saran recalls. [7][8] They were best known for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. This is the time to leave. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. Jack Russell declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. I figured I was on my own at that point.. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. To the families of those who died on that devastating day: Rhode Island will never forget your loved ones and we will always stand by you, McKee said in the statement. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". I have to find him. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? After the investigation ended and prosecutors had no more questions, after reporters stopped calling and the years passed since that deadly night, the man who was the sound technician and stage manager at The Station nightclub was left with his thoughts. A decade ago, a survivor . Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. She saw friends who had lost people they loved, others who had been burned and scarred by the fire, and felt embarrassed that she got out physically unharmed. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. But it's fun. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. She had a cellphone that was working and handed it off to anyone who needed to call home and let their family know they were safe. As we hold those impacted by this tragedy close in our hearts, we also remember the remarkable and courageous actions of first responders, public safety officials, medical professionals, and Rhode Islanders who sprang into action to save lives on that day and who worked to comfort their communities in the days and weeks following.. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the We talk about fire safety a bit, I dont get too, too far into it.. He owned his own construction company, and he was often in the backyard with his sons, improving the landscape or building two ponds that he filled with koi fish.
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