And why wasn't the foam company charged? If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. You were not approaching that area at all. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. They should have blamed more. 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. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? It did not. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. 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.". Share. They would want to talk, she said, and they wouldnt freak. [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. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. 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. [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. 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. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. [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 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. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. [39], At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this account of the tragedy:[41]. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. 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: My hospital roommate, he and I took turns driving the respiratory therapist crazy in some ways it's almost like being in war together. [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. "[58], Dave Kane and Joanne O'Neill, parents of youngest victim Nicholas O'Neill, released their letter to the board to reporters. Nine friends didnt. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. 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. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. This trial was scheduled to start May 1, 2006, but Biechele, against his lawyers' advice,[52] pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter on February 7, 2006, in what he said was an effort to "bring peace, I want this to be over with."[52]. That happened in 2002. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. So that was huge.. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. 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. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. Flames can be seen on the back wall. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. The Feb. 20, 2003. / CBS News. Cold air washing over me. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. I'm going to do this. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. But I made a choice. But Saturday night, as . The brothers have since learned that the fire marshal should have tested the foam on the wall. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". Barr says when he came to, he felt excruciating pain near the base of his spine and burning on his face. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. ", Scott James: They had their moments. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. Scott James: You have four exits. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. [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. [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. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. That was his gift. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. The club was sold. 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. S01:E01 - San Francisco Freeway Collapse. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. About 40 seconds after the song began, Great White stopped the show and all but one member of the band escaped through the stage door exit. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. This is a massive part of my life. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. [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. Biechele. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. 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. One hundred people died, and hundreds more suffered. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". That's when I turned back. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. I don't even like to talk about it. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. There's an exit near the stage. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. And I knew the window was to my left. 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. "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. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. However, fire professionals have few choices about what training should be provided and training programs are continually updated to incorporate new technologies as well as lessons learned from actual fire experiences. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. 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. It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. He was the. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. Scott James: It should not have happened. . He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. They promoted the event. The following day the brothers responded at a press conference: JEFF DERDERIAN: No permission was ever requested by the band or any of its agents to use pyrotechnics at The Station, and no permission was ever given. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. I said to myself, we gotta go. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. We're running out of time." [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. However, on September 21, 2006, Judge Darigan announced that the brothers had changed their pleas from "not guilty" to "no contest," thereby avoiding a trial. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. [9] The ensuing crowd crush in the narrow hallway led to that exit being blocked completely and resulted in numerous deaths and injuries among the patrons and staff. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. This is the time to leave. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. [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. [47] Larocque was not charged by the grand jury, as Lynch had cited a state law that prevented charges against fire marshals without proof of bad faith. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. 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. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". 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. It didn't have a lock on it. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. [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]. You should be proud." Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. The third started that day. The trunk bears the names of the fire victims. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. They were told to take it down. [9][10][8] At the time of their performance at the Station, Great White only had two of its original members in its lineup: Lead singer Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. It was really everything to me at that time. But it's fun. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. it became very, very hard to breathe. 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. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. 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 kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. She got out. 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. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. But, you know, they have this following to this day . Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. And if we could change it, we would. According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window." (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . The answer is no. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. [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. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? [33] One survivor claimed that a bouncer blocked a side door as attendees attempted to escape the building, stating the door was only to be used by the band. [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. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. That's what the code says. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. 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. Do you understand that anger? First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. 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. Purchase and sale had been signed. I had no control over my muscles. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. Michael Derderian: Correct. 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. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Gina Russo of Cranston, R.I. is a survivor of the Station nightclub fire and president of The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. 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. Jeff Derderian: There's so many things that factor into the decision to do that. 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. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. 0:57. 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. Phil Barr: Yep. Its surreal. 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? Jason Hahn. [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. 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. 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. I never thought it would get so bad., He told bartender Julie Mellini that they had to leave, and she and several patrons followed Vanner out the kitchen door. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. [63] Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch objected strenuously to the plea bargain, saying that both brothers should have received jail time and that Michael Derderian should have received more time than Biechele. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. At first, there was no panic. 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. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom.

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