[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. For the Derderians, the "full story" begins with the issue of permission. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. [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. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? Twisted Sister's Dee Snider Honors 2003 Station Nightclub Fire Victims He doesn't know. "[23] Within 40 seconds of the ignition, Great White had stopped playing and left the stage and the venue's fire alarm began to sound, but it was not connected to local fire department. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. . But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Share. They promoted the event. 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. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. 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. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. 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. I'll be right back." 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. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. 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 There was nothing heroic about what I did.. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. Enduring and remembering: The Station fire 20 years later Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. Jeff Derderian: We feel a sense of guilt about what happened in the sense that you carry the guilt of knowing that these people aren't here anymore, and these people are hurt for the rest of their life. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . He turned back to see the crowd bottle-necked at the stage. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. "Literally laid there and said, 'God please just take care of my family,' because I knew I was going to die,'" survivor Linda Saran recalls. "[91], Two years to the day after the fire, band members Russell and Kendall, along with Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live with three survivors of the fire and the father of Longley, to discuss how their lives had changed since the incident. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. For people to know you can go there now and look at this beautiful park and talk to your person thats what I love about it.. 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.. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary - Yurview 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. 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. 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. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!" And people just stood there. [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. It was completely preventable. Patrick Lynch: I don't think there's any question that had that door not been up a significant number of people would have survived. 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. And I'm like, "OK.". "[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. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. 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. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. This is the time to leave. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. Survivor of Rhode Island Station Nightclub Fire Rebuilds His Life 14 My parents taught us a lot, a lot of 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. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. SAVE | California Fire Foundation The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. They were friends. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. But he didn't know what. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. One hundred people died, and hundreds more suffered. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . I said to myself, we gotta go. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. ", Scott James: They had their moments. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. I figured I was on my own at that point.. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. [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. Even if he couldnt. 'We've been trying to move forward': Station nightclub fire survivor on On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. 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. Cold air washing over me. Flames can be seen on the back wall. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. it became very, very hard to breathe. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. [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. They want to talk to you." I found my soul was wanting.. The third started that day. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. He was the. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. He owned his own construction company, and he was often in the backyard with his sons, improving the landscape or building two ponds that he filled with koi fish. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. [21] The flames were initially thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to bank down did people realize it was uncontrolled. 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? Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. How did you meet him? Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. 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.. That's when I turned back. [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. That night is not a coherent memory for her, she said, but a sequence of moments when she was hyper-focused on finding her friends or helping those around her. 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. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. I don't care what I'm going to see.". When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. That's what the code says. you could not see your hand in front of your face. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. 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 crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death. Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? [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. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. Scott James: It smelled like spilled beer and stale cigarettes and everything was just a little bit frayed at the edge. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos - The Providence Journal there are other people who should be responsible. The Station nightclub fire - Wikipedia [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". So that was huge.. 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. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. Linda Saran: Yes. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" 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. I went around back. local Four nonstop. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. It was really everything to me at that time. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. This is a massive part of my life. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. Purchase and sale had been signed. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. It looked like a ladder of those black jelly bracelets from the 80s hanging in rings around my wrists. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. [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.