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. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. [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]. We couldn't make it. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? She got out. They didn't even let him talk about it. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. [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. [12] Great White's popularity had waned in the decade prior to the Station fire, and they had been performing on a touring circuit of small clubs with capacities of up to 500 people. 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. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. And while they weren't charged in the criminal case, survivors and victims' families sued them in civil court for not warning the Derderians the foam they sent them was flammable. 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. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. [61], In January 2008, the Parole Board decided to grant Michael Derderian an early release; he was scheduled to be released from prison in September 2009, but was granted his release in June 2009 for good behavior.[64]. These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. 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. Two years after the fire at The Station nightclub, the Derderians learned about a piece of evidence they say is important that was never presented to the grand jury: an eight-page fax sent to the Attorney General's Office anonymously just months after the fire entitled "The Fire. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. Its irrelevant.. [21] Thick smoke began to fill the station one minute after the ignition and the crowd began to escape the building. 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. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. [11] Although the band was officially known as Jack Russell's Great White at the time, and their tour was initially named after Russell's 2002 solo album For You, they were billed by the Station as simply Great White. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. 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. 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. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. And he says you can. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. 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. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. 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. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. They promoted the event. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. Dan McKee honored the victims, their families, and the first responders who saved many lives. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. local Four nonstop. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. I said to myself, we gotta go. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. S01:E01 - San Francisco Freeway Collapse. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . Patrick Lynch: Looking back on it I would say they ran it as a side business, an attempt to maybe make some extra money with the callous, utter disregard for those that work there and assemble there. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. 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. And 18 years after the fire, the brothers say they want to set the record straight and reveal new information. He trusted in his friends. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. A true hero would have gone for it, Vanner said. "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. It did not. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. [2] The club was cited for nine minor code violations during the first inspection in November 2002, but was not cited for the flammable polyurethane foam the venue used for soundproofing, which was against code. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. Since he co-owned The Station nightclub with his brother Michael Derderian, Jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. [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. 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. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. Stay up to date with everything Boston. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. The Station was a nightclub that was located on the corner of Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. But with last springs dedication of the memorial on the old nightclub site, Del Sesto said she thinks she has found a way not to forget, but to live with the memories. The trunk bears the names of the fire victims. 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. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. Jim Axelrod: Mr. Warner's fax wasn't presented to the grand jury, correct? After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. View All 100 Memorials for the The Station Nightclub Fire Site. I have to find him. And then on one side, I noticed it come over the top, and that's when I said, "I have to leave." ", "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? His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. That happened in 2002. 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. fine against Station Nightclub owners upheld", "Station nightclub fire survivor tells how she's moved on in new book", "The Station fire took emotional toll on survivors, study finds", "Tentative $30 million deal in R. I. nightclub fire", "TV station that assigned reporter to cover his own nightclub raises ethical issue", "Station Video Spurs Lawsuit - Pollstar News", "Nightclub owner resigns from WPRI television", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire: Appendices (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 2", "Grand Jury Convened to Probe Deadly R.I. There had to be that period for me. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. 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? [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. [tears up, shaking his head]. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. 0:57. She endured more than 50 operations. Jim Axelrod: If you have a message that you want the people of Rhode Island to hear, there were plenty of ways to get it out long before now. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. 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. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. Then there's that interior, inward swinging door by the stage that Former Attorney General Patrick Lynch says was responsible for loss of life the night of the fire. [31], Four employees of the Station were killed in the fire. February 20 is the 19th anniversary of the tragic fire that killed 100 and injured another 230 people at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 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. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. It justit was so fast. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. The Foam.". 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. Inspection records showed that just three months before the fire, the Derderians had been cited by the local fire marshal for having a secondary, interior door by the stage that opened inward, which violated regulations. Biechele and Michael Derderian went to prison. [39], At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this account of the tragedy:[41]. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. [2] The follow-up inspection in December 2002 also did not cite the foam, and the inspector gave the building an "All OK" rating on his inspection form. 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. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Saturday marks the 18-year anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire that left lasting scars on numerous families and the state of Rhode Island. [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. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. 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. He was the. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. In February 2008, Providence television station. And why wasn't the foam company charged? A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation of the fire under the authority of the National Construction Safety Team Act, using computer simulations with FDS and a mockup of the stage area and dance floor, concluded that a fire sprinkler system would have contained the fire long enough to give everyone time to exit safely. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. There's an exit near the stage. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. But I made a choice. 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? 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. Absolutely not. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. [78] The event raised at least $25,000 in donations for the Station Family Fund, and was broadcast in March by VH1 and VH1 Classic. 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. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. 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 And I was responsible for the day to day. And it was ugly. That's how thick the smoke was. [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. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. [77], A benefit memorial concert was held in February 2008 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and featured performances by Tesla, Twisted Sister, Winger, Gretchen Wilson, and John Rich. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Michael Derderian: That is correct. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. I needed for that day to come, she said. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? He trusted the owners. Michael Derderian: Correct. [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. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos 98 PHOTOS More Stories Has fire prevention in RI improved since The Station fire? [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. Michael Derderian: Zero. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. [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. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. and I just kind of went down on my face. Scott James: It should not have happened. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. I don't care what I'm going to see.". Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. 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. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. 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 [94] Kendall's version of Great White was to perform at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut alongside Stryper and Steven Adler on March 25, 2023, but the venue indefinitely postponed the concert on March 2, citing its proximity to the twentieth anniversary of the fire. So that was huge.. An off-duty police officer standing outside had heard her kicking at the window. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. But does that mean it's not a crime? Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. 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. Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. 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.". Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? That's what the code says. [102] It is left for each state or local jurisdiction to legally enact and enforce the current code changes.
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