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[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. And the following year he was able to accomplish the impossible and rejoin his swim team. Out of it. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. The Guest List is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, killer show, the station nightclub fire, America's deadliest rock concert. my dad was in the room. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. You were not approaching that area at all. Tweet. 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 turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. 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. And 18 years after the fire, the brothers say they want to set the record straight and reveal new information. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. We have an exit through the kitchen. I went around back. But it's fun. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. PROVIDENCE Over the years Dave Kane has had to find a place to store his outrage over losing his 18-year-old son, Nicholas, in The Station nightclub fire in 2003. And it was ugly. [2], Prior to the fire, the Station often hosted concerts by 1980s hard rock groups and tribute bands. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. That happened in 2002. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!" As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? [5] Local bands that had played at the Station prior to the fire had used pyrotechnics during their concerts without incident, including a Kiss tribute band that had set off fireballs during their show in August 2002. The Station Nightclub Fire: A Horrific First-Person View of the Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. 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. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who is featured in a REELZ documentary about the Warwick, Rhode Island Station nightclub fire, which killed some 100 attendees of a Great White concert in 2003, Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. 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. [78], On the twentieth anniversary of the fire on February 20, 2023, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee ordered flags in Rhode Island lowered to half-staff for the day and the Rhode Island State House to be illuminated in memory of the 100 victims. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. In February 2006 three years after the station nightclub burned down many in Rhode Island were shocked to learn that instead of a trial, a plea deal had been reached with Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for the band Great White. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? 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. 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. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. Multiple injured after shooting at San Jose nightclub | KRON4 They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. Do you understand that anger? So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. In 2017 a memorial was opened to honor the100 innocent lives that were tragically lost in The Station fire, including Tracy King, who died saving so many others. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. REELZ today announced the network's original documentary America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List premieres February 20th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT presenting the deeply personal stories of lives forever altered by the tragic Station nightclub fire that left 100 people dead, more than 200 injured and devastated the tight-knit community of West Warwick, Rhode Island. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. [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. I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones. Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. 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. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. 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. it was happening so fast, fast, fast, fast. [31], Four employees of the Station were killed in the fire. 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. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. And I said my hands won't work. Barr says when he came to, he felt excruciating pain near the base of his spine and burning on his face. Stephen Sweet, a Quincy firefighter who lost his cousin Shawn Sweet in the fire, came to play the bagpipes at a memorial ceremony Monday, WCVB reported. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. She paused, her eyes tearing. The TIAs required automatic fire sprinklers in all existing nightclubs and similar locations that accommodate more than 100 occupants, and all new locations in the same categories. Linda Saran: The night of the fire I got in for free. [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. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? Her father wont visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, she said. 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. About The Guest List View All 100 Memorials for the The Station Nightclub Fire Site. Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock They didn't even let him talk about it. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. That's when I turned back. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. That's what the code says. He trusted in his friends. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. Now, Russo leads the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, which oversees a memorial that stands where the nightclub once went up in flames, The Boston Globe reported. But I should have at least tried.. Phil Barr: Yep. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Jeff Derderian: I remember we were trying to get people away from the building. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. [tears up, shaking his head]. Nightclub Fire", "3 indicted in R.I. rock concert fire - UPI Archives", "The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' about The Station fire, says father who lost son", "The strange and terrible true story of Great White, and the Station nightclub fire", "3 Men Are Indicted in Fire At Rhode Island Nightclub", "Foam company offers Station nightclub fire plaintiffs $6.3M settlement", "DAN BIECHELE SPEAKS Pre-Sentencing Statement GREAT WHITE TOUR MANAGER Station Nightclub Fire RI", "Fury, Tears and 4-Year Term in Deadly Blaze", "Band manager who ignited deadly Rhode Island nightclub fire freed from prison", "Manager Sentenced for Rhode Island Nightclub Fire", "Many families of Station fire victims supporting parole for band manager", "Band manager who ignited R.I. club fire is freed", "After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla", "Derderians will plead; AG says he opposes sentencing deal", "2 Brothers to Plead No Contest in R.I. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. ", "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? 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. They were told to take it down. Remembering the 100 victims of the Station Nightclub fire 18 years [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. More than 460 fans had crowded into the wooden, single-story, 4,480 -square-foot nightclub known as The Station in West Warwick, R.I., to enjoy a Thursday night show on Feb. 20, 2003. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. Survivors and friends of survivors active in the effort to turn the nightclub site in West Warwick into a memorial park recount the emotional journeys that brought them from 2003 to 2018.. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. "We wanted the full story to come out, not just some of it, and for people who want to come to their own conclusion on what happened that night," says Jeff Derderian. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. I couldn't hear noise. [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. So, before I knew it, this finger was contractured down in this position and the rest of them were all bent backwards because the skin had tightened up.". American Foam Corporation, who sold the insulation to The Station nightclub, agreed in 2008 to pay $6.3 million to settle lawsuits relating to the fire. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. 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. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. [104] It was last introduced in the House in 2015 by then-U.S. Reps. James Langevin of Rhode Island and Tom Reed of New York.[104]. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. What kind of club was this? The Station Nightclub Fire: Revisiting the Lessons In February 2008, Providence television station. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos - The Providence Journal I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? ", Scott James: They had their moments. 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.. 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 "Why me?" 20 years later, Station nightclub fire survivors talk guilt [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. (WATCH) The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . It was criminal, he says. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. It did not. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. It fuels you. Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. 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. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. That's how thick the smoke was. JEFF DERDERIAN [crying]: Many people didn't make it out and that is a horror that will haunt my family and I for the rest of our lives. these contracts are pretty specific. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. This is solid gasoline. [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. The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. Purchase and sale had been signed. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. At the opening of the park I had 100 students from my school come, and I had to explain it all so I gave them their learning experience, she said of last Mays dedication of the park on the site of the Station nightclub. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". A decade ago, a survivor . For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. And they played the arenas. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. But she refuses to live in the past. [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. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. [79], The site of the fire was cleared, and a multitude of crosses were placed as memorials, left by loved ones of the deceased. They all later accepted plea deals. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. You should be proud." Jody King: He was gregarious. He was the. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. [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. [21], By this time, the nightclub's fire alarm had activated, and although there were four possible exits, most people headed for the front door through which they had entered. I couldn't play an instrument. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. 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. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. Great White was part of the lawsuit. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. Scott James: You have four exits. 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? When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. The Station nightclub fire - Wikipedia That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. [42][43] The Station, which was built in 1946, was exempt from a sprinkler requirement in the state fire code through a grandfather clause, which stated that buildings constructed before 1976 were not required to have a sprinkler system. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . I've been after this bike for over 4 years and I finally got the call! Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? A staggering 100 lives were lost. San Jose shooting suspect prepared 'to take as many lives as he Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. 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]. So that was huge.. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . I never imagined that anyone ever would be. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam and say the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. [9] American Foam refuted the claims in Warner's fax. S01:E01 - San Francisco Freeway Collapse. Its surreal. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. It was already in contract. Linda Saran: Yes. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. Watch Alive S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire Free TV | Tubi [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". local Four nonstop. [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. In December 2003, nine months after the fire, Jeff and Michael Derderian were in court, each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter 100 for criminal negligence, and 100 for misdemeanor manslaughter. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. [52] Speaking to the public for the first time since the fire, Biechele stated: For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. 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. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. 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