station nightclub fire survivors list

The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. [22] Biechele used four gerbs that were set to spray sparks 15 feet (4.6m) for fifteen seconds. [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. He was the. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. One guy did crawl out. Season 1. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. And people stood and watched it, and some people backed off. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. [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. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. [21] Thick smoke began to fill the station one minute after the ignition and the crowd began to escape the building. 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. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. They would want to talk, she said, and they wouldnt freak. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. [2] The follow-up inspection in December 2002 also did not cite the foam, and the inspector gave the building an "All OK" rating on his inspection form. Nothing lifts his despair. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. But I should have at least tried.. Mon, February 20th 2023, 8:29 PM PST. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. That was in like the 80s. 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. Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. [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. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. The Station was a nightclub that was located on the corner of Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Everybody just kind of turned. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. 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. Michael Derderian: Zero. The answer is no. Jack Russell declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. [48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. I couldn't get up. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . 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. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. 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. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. I figured I was on my own at that point.. 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. my dad was in the room. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. Linda Saran: Yes. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. it was happening so fast, fast, fast, fast. Jody King: He was gregarious. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. 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. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. [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]. But I made a choice. [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. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." 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 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. [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. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. Barr says when he came to, he felt excruciating pain near the base of his spine and burning on his face. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. [104] The legislation would create a tax incentive for property owners to install fire sprinkler systems. He still remembers that deadly night. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. I have to find him. There had to be that period for me. But, you know, they have this following to this day . I remember getting pushed from behind. [2], Prior to the fire, the Station often hosted concerts by 1980s hard rock groups and tribute bands. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam and say the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. It looked like it was raining black fire. 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 Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? At first, there was no panic. 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 . 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. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. I don't care what I'm going to see.". there are other people who should be responsible. We have an exit through the kitchen. It did not. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? 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 Then there's that interior, inward swinging door by the stage that Former Attorney General Patrick Lynch says was responsible for loss of life the night of the fire. In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. And why wasn't the foam company charged? That happened in 2002. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. The tour manager for the rock band Great White pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. And I stood up. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. [47] Larocque was not charged by the grand jury, as Lynch had cited a state law that prevented charges against fire marshals without proof of bad faith. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. [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. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. It was completely preventable. 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. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the fire. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM There was nothing heroic about what I did.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. It was already in contract. 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. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. A true hero would have gone for it, Vanner said. Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Its surreal. 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. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the 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 turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. I said to myself, we gotta go. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), R.I. State House homeless encampment removed after legal fight, After the 80th anniversary of the tragic fire, a Cocoanut Grove memorial is coming to Boston, This affordable airline says it will bring at least 20 routes to an R.I. airport. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. [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]. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. Patrick Lynch: The defendant had every right to go to trial and say, hey, if it's this mysterious fax that it's trying to be referenced today, 18 years later, hey, this is important. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. I had no control over my muscles. [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. And then on one side, I noticed it come over the top, and that's when I said, "I have to leave." And they played the arenas. 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. The roof was caving in, walls were caving in, body after body in front of me. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. [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". We screwed up." [9] American Foam refuted the claims in Warner's fax. [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. [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. They promoted the event. 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. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. [21] Twenty seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing and lead singer Jack Russell calmly remarked into the microphone, "Wow that's not good. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." [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. 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. Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of the Station, pleaded no contest and avoided a trial: Michael received the same sentence as Biechele and was released from prison in 2009, while Jeffrey received a sentence of 500 hours of community service. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [tears up, shaking his head]. I went around back. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. [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. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. [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. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. The Station Nightclub Fire - University of Cincinnati pdf To summarize the reports, specifically about how people exited, the vast majority of people attempted to exit the way they came in. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. This is solid gasoline. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. "We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out," says Jody King, whose brother worked at The Station as a bouncer. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. And the following year he was able to accomplish the impossible and rejoin his swim team. 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.". It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. But she refuses to live in the past. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. And he says you can. 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. 2003 deadly fire at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA, Great White, Jack Russell, and Mark Kendall, National Institute of Standards and Technology, "The Station nightclub fire 10 years later: Healing continues as West Warwick, Rhode Island, takes next step in recovery", "The Station Fire: Timeline of a tragedy", "Station tragedy leads to tougher fire code", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 1", "Beyond grief: Trying to make sense out of the Station tragedy", "Tragedy Catches Up to a Metal Band Past Its Prime", "Great White Fireworks Set Off a Controversy", "The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for disaster that killed 100? The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? [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. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. 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. These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. Jody King: They blamed three. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. One near the bar. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. And people just stood there. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. I don't even like to talk about it. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. 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. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. And that song reminds us of that night. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. 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. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. I couldn't play an instrument. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. [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. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. He doesn't know. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. 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. And I fell down the stairs, out that door. 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. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. [5] Local bands that had played at the Station prior to the fire had used pyrotechnics during their concerts without incident, including a Kiss tribute band that had set off fireballs during their show in August 2002. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. [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. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. 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. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. . 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..

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