[9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. 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. 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. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. It justit was so fast. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. 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. And people just stood there. And I'm like, "OK.". Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. 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. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. Patrick Lynch: The defendant had every right to go to trial and say, hey, if it's this mysterious fax that it's trying to be referenced today, 18 years later, hey, this is important. Both the brothers had other jobs. Scott James: It smelled like spilled beer and stale cigarettes and everything was just a little bit frayed at the edge. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. I miss Tina a lot. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. There isn't a guilt in terms of like, that we knowingly did this or or caused it but there's a guilt that we it happened on our watch, happened on our watch. She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. So, I would think that the pyrotechnic provision would be in there just like we need to have, you know, 12 M&Ms, I mean, you know, and they need to be brown. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. [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. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. "[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. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . A surgery to correct a childhood ailment with his ears left him able to balance objects on his chin. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. [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. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. It looked like it was raining black fire. Linda Saran: Yes. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. It didn't have a lock on it. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. 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.". Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. One near the bar. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. [99] 41 and a film based on O'Neill's play They Walk Among Us were aired by Rhode Island PBS in February 2013 in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the fire. [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. [90] Russell planned to donate the proceeds to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but the organization asked to be disassociated from the concert, citing the animosity still felt by many of the survivors and surviving families. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. [11] Dominic Santana, the owner of The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, told reporters that Great White had used pyrotechnics during their February 14, 2003 performance at the venue without his permission, and their contract and rider did not mention pyrotechnics displays. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. 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.. In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. . That's what the code says. [34], Providence Phoenix columnist Ian Donnis wrote of the effect that the fire had on the close-knit Rhode Island community, "The loss of so much life would represent a tragedy anywhere, but it struck especially hard in Rhode Island, the nation's smallest state, where no place is more than an hour away by car and the fire claimed one tenth of one percent of the state's population. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. That happened in 2002. if I had nothing to hide, then why wouldn't you why wouldn't you talk to them and tell them what you knew or what you didn't know? It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. Jeff Derderian, seated right, says, "You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form.". He was the. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. Tracy died never giving up. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. As a result of this and other similar incidents, fire chiefs, fire marshals and inspectors require trained crowd managers to comply with the International Fire Code, NFPA-101 Life Safety Code, NFPA-1 Fire Code and many local ordinances that address safety in public-assembly occupancies. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. It all started around 11 p.m. when the rock band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and the group's tour manager, Daniel Biechele, set off four large fireworks called gerbs. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. There was a table in the way at the door, and I pulled that out just to get it out of the way so people could get out easier. [tears up, shaking his head]. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. [85] By April 2016, $1.65 million of the $2 million fundraising goal had been achieved and construction of the Station Fire Memorial Park had commenced. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. But she refuses to live in the past. They should have blamed more. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. 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. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. I went around back. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. [13], In February 2003, Great White was on an eighteen date concert tour, and they had been using a pyrotechnic display during their performances that some club owners had denied them permission to use, citing safety concerns. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. [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. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. It fuels you. The message is, Dont forget. Never forget these people or forget what happened., Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. Since the fire, I have wanted to tell the victims and their families how truly sorry I am for what happened that night and the part that I had in it. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. And I took a good look and I said, "Oh, st, I'm burned.". [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. [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. They were friends. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. So, the only way to pick up a can of soda would be to do this [lifting both arms out parallel in front of her]. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. Its irrelevant.. there are other people who should be responsible. [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. ", "Fire in a nightclub: the band; group persevered by making circuit of smaller clubs", "How tragedy inspired one member of Great White", "Rhode Island Remembers Victims Of Deadly GREAT WHITE Concert Fire", "Club, band dispute permission to use fireworks - Feb. 22, 2003", "Memories sear survivor of fire that killed 100 in 2003", "Parents mourn loss of only child in nightclub fire, but cherish time they had after first near-death experience", "Radio station to remain in fire lawsuits", "Clear Channel agrees to pay $22 million to nightclub fire victims", "Portraits of people who died in the R.I. nightclub fire", "Timeline: What happened the night of the Station nightclub fire? / CBS News. They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. He don't know. 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. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. [17][16], The concert was emceed by Michael Gonsalves, a disk jockey for Providence rock radio station WHJY who was also known as "Doctor Metal". Phil Barr: Yep. Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. Dan McKee honored the victims, their families, and the first responders who saved many lives. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List explores the Station nightclub fire through gripping survivor accounts and family members and friends of victims who have memorialized their loss through pursuits ranging from an exhibit of commemorative body art to re-immersion in the rock culture that initially brought them and their loved ones Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. I said to myself, we gotta go. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. [2][46] On December 9, 2003, the grand jury announced indictments against Station owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White road manager Daniel M. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. Jody King: I spent the next five or six hours going back and forth in the parking lot talking to firemen, asking firemen, "can you please pull the sheets back for me? He don't know. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. [8], Great White had two opening acts for the February 20 concert: Trip, a group from Vancouver, Washington, and Fathead, a local Rhode Island band. I'm going to do this. I don't even like to talk about it. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. 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. [58] Others pointed out that Biechele had sent handwritten letters to the families of each of the 100 victims and that he had a work release position in a local charity. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. you could not see your hand in front of your face. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List explores the Station nightclub fire through gripping survivor accounts and family members and friends of victims who have memorialized their loss . Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. Nightclub Fire", "Judge Accepts Plea Deal in Rhode Island Fire", "Co-owner of R.I. club where 100 died to be released early", "Band to pay $1M in case over deadly club fire", "Great White offers $1M to settle fatal fire suits", "Derderians reach settlement in nightclub fire", "Governments offer $20 million in RI nightclub fire", "Packaging company settles in R.I. nightclub fire", "McLaughlin & Moran, Anheuser-Busch offer $21M settlement in Station fire case", "Home Depot Settles In R.I. [18][19] Gonsalves was the host of the WHJY program The Metal Zone, at the time the longest-running heavy metal radio program in the United States. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. Station Fire Memorial Park, a permanent memorial to the victims of the fire, was opened in May 2017 at the site where the Station once stood. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. Biechele and Michael Derderian went to prison. Phil Barr: A lot of people moved back towards the main entrance it became really clear that we were not going to be able [to] get out the front door. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. Jim Axelrod: And then it just got engulfed in flames? Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . She endured more than 50 operations. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? And the following year he was able to accomplish the impossible and rejoin his swim team. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. They promoted the event. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. It would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. In fact, they did the opposite.". He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. Vanner wonders whether he could have saved them. The Station Nightclub Fire - University of Cincinnati pdf To summarize the reports, specifically about how people exited, the vast majority of people attempted to exit the way they came in. [9] Michael Derderian told 48 Hours that it was "Undisputable" that the building's use of flammable packing foam instead of flame retardant sound foam was the cause of the fire's spread, but the brothers claimed that they had ordered sound foam and had received the packing foam instead. The tour manager for the rock band Great White pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. Great White was part of the lawsuit. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. The night of the fire Jeff Derderian gave a statement to the local police and another one to an investigator with the Attorney General's Office. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. It was completely preventable. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the Derderians said they wanted to set the record straight and reveal new information about that foam and accountability. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . Nothing lifts his despair. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. For more information on your department or district joining the SAVE program click here or contact the California Fire Foundation at save@cpf.org or (916) 641-1707. Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. into the main barroom. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. The Foam.". Vanner has no excuses. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. [104] The legislation would create a tax incentive for property owners to install fire sprinkler systems. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. Like, "get away from the building." But with last years dedication of the Station Memorial Park on the site of the nightclub, she said she found that along with the scars, that night had provided her with a purpose in life and people she would otherwise never have known. 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. It was liquid fire. 9. Well, I guess once we all started to turn toward the door, and we got bottle-necked into the front door, people just kept pushing, and eventually everyone popped out of the door, including myself. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. Do you understand that anger? [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. Michael Derderian: He's completely out of it. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. You bury nine people in a period of less than two weeks, she said, and yeah, I think it affects you. They are speaking out about the fire for the first time. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. 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. [36] Butler was there for a planned piece on nightclub safety being reported by Jeffrey A. Derderian, a WPRI news reporter who was also a part-owner of The Station. Most people still just stood there. But never once do they say, "we screwed up." [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. Jody King: They blamed three. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. We screwed up." How he went from being a man with a job he loved and friends, to someone struggling with sobriety and guilt, suffering flashbacks at fire alarms and smoke-like fog. He still remembers that deadly night. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. We took shortcuts. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. And he's like he don't know. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Linda Saran: The bar got quiet because people were dying literally and all you could hear was the roar of the fire and liquor bottles exploding. So that was huge.. Susan Nicol. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. Parole board chairwoman Lisa Holley told journalists of her surprise at the forgiving attitude of the families, saying, "I think the most overwhelming part of it for me was the depth of forgiveness of many of these families that have sustained such a loss. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. But does that mean it's not a crime? There's an exit near the stage. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), R.I. State House homeless encampment removed after legal fight, After the 80th anniversary of the tragic fire, a Cocoanut Grove memorial is coming to Boston, This affordable airline says it will bring at least 20 routes to an R.I. airport. I went back around the front again, and that's when you saw people stacked on top of each other, trying to get out of the front door. : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. View Image Gallery. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. I'll be right back." For the Derderians, the "full story" begins with the issue of permission. [9], Thousands of mourners attended an interfaith memorial service at St. Gregory the Great Church in Warwick on February 24, 2003, to remember those lost in the fire. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. Phil Barr: I don't like to talk about it, but I remember feeling weight on top of me, and I'm pretty sure I crawled out from under another person to pull myself up. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. 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.