I am proud. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. 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. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. [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. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. He was the. The brothers, however, find that hard to believe considering the foam covered the walls, ceiling and even the inward swinging door he cited as a violation. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. 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. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. [17][16], The concert was emceed by Michael Gonsalves, a disk jockey for Providence rock radio station WHJY who was also known as "Doctor Metal". Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. American Foam Corporation, who sold the insulation to The Station nightclub, agreed in 2008 to pay $6.3 million to settle lawsuits relating to the fire. She endured more than 50 operations. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. For the Derderians, the "full story" begins with the issue of permission. I found my soul was wanting.. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. "[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. [83], In June 2003, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation (SFMF) was formed with the purpose of purchasing the property, to build and maintain a memorial. You were not approaching that area at all. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. I went back around the front again, and that's when you saw people stacked on top of each other, trying to get out of the front door. *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. Linda Saran: Yes. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. Flames soon appeared on the walls on either side of the stage and spread quickly along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling, intended to dampen sound. The charge is pending. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. [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. 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. There's an exit near the stage. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? Most people still just stood there. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. This is a massive part of my life. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. 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 . And people just stood there. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. Everybody just kind of turned. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Vanner wonders whether he could have saved them. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. Its surreal. [90] Russell planned to donate the proceeds to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but the organization asked to be disassociated from the concert, citing the animosity still felt by many of the survivors and surviving families. 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]. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. local Four nonstop. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. [2] Larocque later told the Rhode Island State Police that he had not spotted the polyurethane foam during the November 2002 inspection because he was upset after finding an illegal inward swinging door that he had previously asked to be removed from the building. And 18 years after the fire, the brothers say they want to set the record straight and reveal new information. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. 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. 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. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. But Saturday night, as . Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. "48 Hours" has confirmed the fax wasnotpresented to the grand jury. Scott James: He writes up this long, almost a manifesto about all the things that he thinks are wrong in that foam company that led to this tragedy. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. He trusted the owners. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. We couldn't make it. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. I needed for that day to come, she said. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. ", "20 years later, the effects of the Station nightclub fire still linger - The Boston Globe", "The Great White Nightclub Fire: Ten Years Later", "In West Warwick firefighters' hearts, the disaster isn't over", "How a West Warwick restaurant became a triage center for burn victims", "20th anniversary of New England nightclub fire that killed 100", "State supreme court to review penalty for employee deaths in R.I. fire - UPI.com", "Workers comp. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. And I said my hands won't work. [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: It's like a riptide. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who is featured in a REELZ documentary about the Warwick, Rhode Island Station nightclub fire, which killed some 100 attendees of a Great White concert in 2003, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. And I was responsible for the day to day. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. So, to the people who think we don't own it I'm telling you, we DO own it ok? 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? [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. 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. 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: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. 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.. [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. We're running out of time." [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. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. my dad was in the room. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. 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. How did you meet him? Their story starts three years before the fire. There was no one coming out the back door anymore. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. [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. Nightclub Fire", "WHJY, Clear Channel offer $22M Station fire settlement", "Service recalls victims of nightclub fire - Feb. 25, 2003", "Families visit scene of deadly nightclub fire - Feb. 24, 2003", "Concert for nightclub fire survivors nets $25K", "Governor McKee Statement on 20th Anniversary of Station Nightclub Fire | Governor's Office, State of Rhode Island", "Station Nightclub Fire Memorial On Track For 2016 Opening", "Timeline: Station Nightclub Fire, 15 year anniversary", "Station nightclub site will no longer be Pokemon Go destination", "Owner of burned RI club donates land for memorial", "Job Lot customers respond to Station Fire Memorial drive", "Memorial park dedicated to victims of Station Nightclub Fire", "Great White: Performing again is the right thing", "Providence nightclub fire charity rebuffs Great White singer", "After the fire: Great White, survivors live with the horror of Rhode Island tragedy", "Rhode Island Club Fire Tragedy Revisited with Members of Rock Band Great White", "Now There's Two Versions Of Great White | Metal Insider", "After The Fire: Feelings mixed and emotions high as Jack Russell's Great White return to New England", "Great White And Jack Russell Reach Agreement Over Use Of Band Name", "Great White singer's fire memorial concert nixed", "Mohegan Sun postpones Great White concert booked close to Station fire anniversary", "Documentary on youngest Station victim to be aired", "Films by RIC Alum Are Among Station Nightclub Fire Tributes", National Fire Protection Association web page "Nightclubs/assembly occupancies", Guide to the Station Nightclub Victims' Collection from the Rhode Island State Archives, Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Station_nightclub_fire&oldid=1142630889, Building and structure fires in the United States, February 2003 events in the United States, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2013, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. [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. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. Tweet. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. They all later accepted plea deals. "[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. 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. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. [21], Among those who died in the fire were Great White guitarist Ty Longley, and the show's emcee, WHJY DJ Mike "The Doctor" Gonsalves. 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.. Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. And I took a good look and I said, "Oh, st, I'm burned.". Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. Scott James: You have four exits. It was really everything to me at that time. This is the main bar where you can get your drinks. That's how thick the smoke was. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. In February 2008, Providence television station. Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. There had to be that period for me. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. Jeff Derderian: I don't know. Two decades after 100 people were killed in the West Warwick, R.I. fire, those affected by the incident are reflecting on that tragic night. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . 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. there are other people who should be responsible. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. 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. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. 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. [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. And he's like he don't know. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. [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. Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. [2] The three were each charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in violation of a misdemeanor. Phil Barr: Yep. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. 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. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. The answer is no. Absolutely not. It was liquid fire. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. you could not see your hand in front of your face. Phil Barr: A lot of people moved back towards the main entrance it became really clear that we were not going to be able [to] get out the front door. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? 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. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. 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. First of all, I don't know you would, how would you how would you accomplish the detail and the amount of new information in a news conference or, you know, a commercial or something that we would try and do on our own. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. But what they received was highly flammable packing foam. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. 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. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. Vanner has no excuses. [9] In 2005, the Rhode Island Attorney General office received a fax from Barry Warner, a former employee of American Foam who lived nearby the Station, who claimed the company had known about the dangers of polyurethane foam but did not warn their employees about 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. Share. [2][46] On December 9, 2003, the grand jury announced indictments against Station owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White road manager Daniel M. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal.