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. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. But she said she also wants to keep the people she has met from that night, who she sees as friends and not sharers of a horrible experience. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. I figured I was on my own at that point.. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. It's like a surge of bodies. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. And he's like he don't know. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. [11] Although the band was officially known as Jack Russell's Great White at the time, and their tour was initially named after Russell's 2002 solo album For You, they were billed by the Station as simply Great White. Survivor of The Station nightclub fire reflects on 20th anniversary When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. But, you know, they have this following to this day . Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. The Station nightclub fire: What happened, how many died, who was He arrived early around 8:30 p.m. Phil Barr: There really weren't that many people around early in the night. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. The club was not equipped with sprinklers, according to the NIST, and crowding at the buildings main entrance made it difficult for people to escape. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. [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. Its irrelevant.. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. [14] In the aftermath of the fire, Great White and the owners of the Station disputed whether the band were allowed to use the pyrotechnic display during their concert. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. Two years after the fire at The Station nightclub, the Derderians learned about a piece of evidence they say is important that was never presented to the grand jury: an eight-page fax sent to the Attorney General's Office anonymously just months after the fire entitled "The Fire. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. The Guest List is a strikingly visual film. The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary - Yurview 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. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud night. This is a massive part of my life. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. [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. The Guest List: Documentary about The Station nightclub fire will [21], By this time, the nightclub's fire alarm had activated, and although there were four possible exits, most people headed for the front door through which they had entered. He don't know. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. 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 they played the arenas. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. The Station nightclub fire - Wikipedia It didn't have a lock on it. Michael Derderian: Correct. Michael Derderian: No. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. I'll be right back." The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". 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. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. You were not approaching that area at all. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. 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. Her father wont visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, 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. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". [9], Thousands of mourners attended an interfaith memorial service at St. Gregory the Great Church in Warwick on February 24, 2003, to remember those lost in the fire. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. But does that mean it's not a crime? [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. I remember getting pushed from behind. First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. [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. Absolutely not. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. Vanner wonders whether he could have saved them. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. 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. Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. sentenced Biechele to fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probation, for his role in the fire. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. 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. He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window." Their story starts three years before the fire. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. Since he co-owned The Station nightclub with his brother Michael Derderian, Jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. That was in like the 80s. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. In Memoriam: Victims of the Station Nightclub Fire - WPRI.com Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. But Jeff Derderian, who was helping out at the bar, says he and an employee tried to get to the stage with a fire extinguisher. 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 result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". It was already in contract. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. I am proud. Out of it. CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. [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. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. He trusted in his friends. 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. Jim Axelrod: Mr. Warner's fax wasn't presented to the grand jury, correct? 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. ", "Fire in a nightclub: the band; group persevered by making circuit of smaller clubs", "How tragedy inspired one member of Great White", "Rhode Island Remembers Victims Of Deadly GREAT WHITE Concert Fire", "Club, band dispute permission to use fireworks - Feb. 22, 2003", "Memories sear survivor of fire that killed 100 in 2003", "Parents mourn loss of only child in nightclub fire, but cherish time they had after first near-death experience", "Radio station to remain in fire lawsuits", "Clear Channel agrees to pay $22 million to nightclub fire victims", "Portraits of people who died in the R.I. nightclub fire", "Timeline: What happened the night of the Station nightclub fire? Station Nightclub Tragedy Revisited Five Years Later | Firehouse Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. Well, I guess once we all started to turn toward the door, and we got bottle-necked into the front door, people just kept pushing, and eventually everyone popped out of the door, including myself. And that song reminds us of that night. Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the Station nightclub fire, one of the deadliest blazes to ever occur at a nightclub in the United States. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. At the opening of the park I had 100 students from my school come, and I had to explain it all so I gave them their learning experience, she said of last Mays dedication of the park on the site of the Station nightclub. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. At first, there was no panic. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. The Station was a nightclub that was located on the corner of Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. Flames can be seen on the back wall. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. 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.. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. Its surreal. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? The fire was the fourth-deadliest at a nightclub in U.S. history, and the second-deadliest in New England, behind the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire, which resulted in 492 deaths. You bury nine people in a period of less than two weeks, she said, and yeah, I think it affects you. 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. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. There was a table in the way at the door, and I pulled that out just to get it out of the way so people could get out easier. They promoted the event. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. [6], Great White, the headlining band of the February 20 concert, had risen to fame as part of the glam metal scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. That was his gift. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. [4] In 1985, it was converted to a pub, which closed sometime in the late 1980s, and a nightclub was opened in its place in 1991. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. Susan Nicol. She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. [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. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. They were friends. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. 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. [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. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Jim Axelrod: If you have a message that you want the people of Rhode Island to hear, there were plenty of ways to get it out long before now. Michael Derderian: Zero. I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. [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. [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. [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. Jody King: I see the horror. I don't care what I'm going to see.". Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. JEFF DERDERIAN [crying]: Many people didn't make it out and that is a horror that will haunt my family and I for the rest of our lives. [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. 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. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. 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, "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. [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. Survivors of the Station nightclub fire reflect on tragedy's 20th And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. 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. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. Station fire, 15 years later: Survivors tell their stories A surgery to correct a childhood ailment with his ears left him able to balance objects on his chin. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. 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. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. 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. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. 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. And while they weren't charged in the criminal case, survivors and victims' families sued them in civil court for not warning the Derderians the foam they sent them was flammable. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. Patrick Lynch: The type of foam was equal to gallons of gasoline. Phil Barr: I loved it. The Station Nightclub Fire: A Horrific First-Person View of the Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. 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 spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. I needed for that day to come, she said. What kind of club was this? NFPA on LinkedIn: Station Nightclub Fire Survivor Returns to the Scene 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 people just stood there. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. This is the time to leave. Many of the families believed that the punishment was just; others had hoped for a more severe sentence. View Image Gallery. 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. I couldn't play an instrument. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. Jason Hahn. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. And then on one side, I noticed it come over the top, and that's when I said, "I have to leave." They want to talk to you." Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma.
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