station nightclub fire survivors list

these contracts are pretty specific. I can't speak Everything was, you know, sore and hoarse I picked up the pen in very weak, you know, kind of handwriting I wrote, "I hope to make progress every day.". Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. And they're quick to point out the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. [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. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. Jody King: He ran in and came out nine times in 90 seconds. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. [9] American Foam refuted the claims in Warner's fax. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" The Feb. 20, 2003. [39], At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this account of the tragedy:[41]. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for Great White who had ignited the pyrotechnics, plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2006 and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with four to serve. She paused, her eyes tearing. He doesn't know. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. 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. Do you understand that anger? "[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. [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]. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. 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. [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. The brothers have since learned that the fire marshal should have tested the foam on the wall. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. Linda Saran: The night of the fire I got in for free. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. And I said my hands won't work. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. And I was responsible for the day to day. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. 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. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? That specific. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" They all later accepted plea deals. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? 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. That happened in 2002. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. It couldnt continue another 10, 15 years, it couldnt. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. 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. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. 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. What kind of club was this? [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. [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. Tweet. That was his gift. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. I'm going to do this. it became very, very hard to breathe. Most people still just stood there. 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. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. 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. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. [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. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. You were not approaching that area at all. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. And I'm like, "OK.". 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. Phil Barr: Yep. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. And outside I went. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. [31], Four employees of the Station were killed in the fire. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. Flames can be seen on the back wall. [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. It looked like it was raining black fire. Fifteen years from now, she hopes, her students will go by the park, and have a memory, a connection, with the 100 people whose names and faces are etched into black granite squares arrayed throughout the park. She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. I'll be right back." [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. It didn't have a lock on it. The answer is no. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. Scott James: You have four exits. I've been after this bike for over 4 years and I finally got the call! 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. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. The roof was caving in, walls were caving in, body after body in front of me. But, you know, they have this following to this day . [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. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. One near the bar. They are speaking out about the fire for the first time. Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? After the investigation ended and prosecutors had no more questions, after reporters stopped calling and the years passed since that deadly night, the man who was the sound technician and stage manager at The Station nightclub was left with his thoughts. And people just stood there. 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. Jody King: I spent the next five or six hours going back and forth in the parking lot talking to firemen, asking firemen, "can you please pull the sheets back for me? 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. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. [102] It is left for each state or local jurisdiction to legally enact and enforce the current code changes. [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]. [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. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. local Four nonstop. [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. They were told to take it down. Cold air washing over me. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. [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. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. 0:57. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. And they played the arenas. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. The Foam.". Nightclub Fire", "Judge Accepts Plea Deal in Rhode Island Fire", "Co-owner of R.I. club where 100 died to be released early", "Band to pay $1M in case over deadly club fire", "Great White offers $1M to settle fatal fire suits", "Derderians reach settlement in nightclub fire", "Governments offer $20 million in RI nightclub fire", "Packaging company settles in R.I. nightclub fire", "McLaughlin & Moran, Anheuser-Busch offer $21M settlement in Station fire case", "Home Depot Settles In R.I. 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. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. [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. 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. 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 he's like he don't know. But does that mean it's not a crime? But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. 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. [29] The initial death toll was 96 people; Four more individuals died in the hospital in the weeks following, bringing the toll to 100. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. But what they received was highly flammable packing foam. "[5], Many of the survivors of the fire developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the event. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. So that was huge.. It was completely preventable. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. This is a massive part of my life. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. my dad was in the room. Why had the fire spread so quickly? In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years . She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. He still remembers that deadly night. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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]. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. [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. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. [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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. There isn't a guilt in terms of like, that we knowingly did this or or caused it but there's a guilt that we it happened on our watch, happened on our watch. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . [27] A portion of the nightclub roof collapsed at 11:57 p.m., and a second portion in the building's sunroom collapsed at 12:07 a.m..[24] Patients were transported to Kent Hospital, which was filled to maximum capacity due to the fire. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. It justit was so fast. One hundred people died, and hundreds more suffered. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. You should be proud." He trusted the owners. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. 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. Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. As were going down the stairs to get into the comedy club, in the heart of Times Square, the first thought that goes through my mind: I come back and look and go: Are there two exits down there? she said. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. So, to the people who think we don't own it I'm telling you, we DO own it ok? That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. Everybody just kind of turned. A surgery to correct a childhood ailment with his ears left him able to balance objects on his chin. According to Bostonherald.com, a memorial fund that raises money for survivors of The Station nightclub fire received at least $25,000 in donations after a benefit concert aired on television, organizers said today.. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . 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. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. But it's fun. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. 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. 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 . Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. One near the bar. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. Share. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. 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. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? 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. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . It was really everything to me at that time. 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. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. it was also on fire. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. And I fell down the stairs, out that door. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. Michael Derderian: That is correct. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. 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. Mon, February 20th 2023, 8:29 PM PST. Great White was part of the lawsuit. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. We have an exit through the kitchen. 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. It was that fast. It fuels you. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. And I knew the window was to my left. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. 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. 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.

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