station nightclub fire survivors list

I found my soul was wanting.. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. Its irrelevant.. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. 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 [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. 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. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. 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? She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. I went around back. [15][16] All the members of Trip escaped the Station without injury, but two members of Fathead, cousins Keith and Steven Mancini, died in the fire. Jim Axelrod: The fire spread so quickly because rather than fire-retardant sound foam, on the wall of the club was highly flammable packing foam. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. 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. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. Investigators eventually discovered the fax was sent by Barry Warner, a former employee at American Foam the company that had sent the Derderians the packing foam made of flammable polyurethane. I couldn't get up. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? Everybody just kind of turned. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. Jim Axelrod: And then it just got engulfed in flames? For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. 9. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. Barr says when he came to, he felt excruciating pain near the base of his spine and burning on his face. Both the brothers had other jobs. It was like what? That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. "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. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. I had no control over my muscles. [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. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. View Image Gallery. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the fire. [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. 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. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. fine against Station Nightclub owners upheld", "Station nightclub fire survivor tells how she's moved on in new book", "The Station fire took emotional toll on survivors, study finds", "Tentative $30 million deal in R. I. nightclub fire", "TV station that assigned reporter to cover his own nightclub raises ethical issue", "Station Video Spurs Lawsuit - Pollstar News", "Nightclub owner resigns from WPRI television", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire: Appendices (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 2", "Grand Jury Convened to Probe Deadly R.I. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. [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]. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. Like, "get away from the building." The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. The Guest List is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, killer show, the station nightclub fire, America's deadliest rock concert. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. The charge is pending. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. 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. This is the time to leave. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. 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.. They didn't even let him talk about it. there are other people who should be responsible. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. For more information on your department or district joining the SAVE program click here or contact the California Fire Foundation at [email protected] or (916) 641-1707. [78] The event raised at least $25,000 in donations for the Station Family Fund, and was broadcast in March by VH1 and VH1 Classic. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. She got out. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. An off-duty police officer standing outside had heard her kicking at the window. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. [11] Dominic Santana, the owner of The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, told reporters that Great White had used pyrotechnics during their February 14, 2003 performance at the venue without his permission, and their contract and rider did not mention pyrotechnics displays. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. these contracts are pretty specific. And people just stood there. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. And if we could change it, we would. 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. That happened in 2001. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. It was that fast. 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. [8], Great White had two opening acts for the February 20 concert: Trip, a group from Vancouver, Washington, and Fathead, a local Rhode Island band. He wrote: "This is a company that is well aware of the dangers of polyurethane foam. 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. People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. Fifteen years since that terrible night. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. [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. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. [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]. They were friends. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. As we hold those impacted by this tragedy close in our hearts, we also remember the remarkable and courageous actions of first responders, public safety officials, medical professionals, and Rhode Islanders who sprang into action to save lives on that day and who worked to comfort their communities in the days and weeks following.. 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. However, fire professionals have few choices about what training should be provided and training programs are continually updated to incorporate new technologies as well as lessons learned from actual fire experiences. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Nothing lifts his despair. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. I couldn't play an instrument. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. He doesn't know. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. This is the main bar where you can get your drinks. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. [43][45], An investigation of the fire by a Rhode Island state grand jury was started by then-Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch on February 26, 2003. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. [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. I said to myself, we gotta go. And settled for $1 million. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. Tracy died never giving up. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. It looked like it was raining black fire. 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. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. One near the bar. [61], In January 2008, the Parole Board decided to grant Michael Derderian an early release; he was scheduled to be released from prison in September 2009, but was granted his release in June 2009 for good behavior.[64]. 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 stood and watched it, and some people backed off. 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. Greatly., Things that bother people you sit there and you shake your head and you go, if this is the worst thing that happens to me today, this month, this year, this decade, I mean, at that point its one of those things. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. ", "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. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. 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. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. [93] After a 2013 legal settlement between the two parties, Kendall's band retained the Great White name, while Russell's band was allowed to use the name Jack Russell's Great White. They want to talk to you." 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? [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. These days, she uses her job as a teacher at John F. Deering Middle School to make it so those who didnt suffer so directly will remember it too. Russo said that the memorial serves a valuable purpose today for those who knew victims. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. She endured more than 50 operations. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers.