Jody King: He ran in and came out nine times in 90 seconds. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. [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. 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. 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. Biechele. [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. Station Nightclub Tragedy Revisited Five Years Later | Firehouse JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. As soon as the pyrotechnics stopped, the flame had started on the egg-crate backing behind the stage, and it just went up the ceiling. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. Phil Barr: Yep. They didn't even let him talk about it. Fifteen years since that terrible night. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. Phil Barr: I don't like to talk about it, but I remember feeling weight on top of me, and I'm pretty sure I crawled out from under another person to pull myself up. 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. [52] Speaking to the public for the first time since the fire, Biechele stated: For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. It was completely preventable. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. Now, Russo leads the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, which oversees a memorial that stands where the nightclub once went up in flames, The Boston Globe reported. I had no control over my muscles. A staggering 100 lives were lost. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. Patrick Lynch: I don't think there's any question that had that door not been up a significant number of people would have survived. [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". That's when I turned back. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. [48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death. There had to be that period for me. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? 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. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. After the investigation ended and prosecutors had no more questions, after reporters stopped calling and the years passed since that deadly night, the man who was the sound technician and stage manager at The Station nightclub was left with his thoughts. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. I needed for that day to come, she said. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. Nine friends didnt. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. It's like a surge of bodies. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Even if he died trying. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. An off-duty police officer standing outside had heard her kicking at the window. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. It did not. San Jose shooting suspect prepared 'to take as many lives as he Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. She endured more than 50 operations. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. 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. 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. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. Survivors of nightclub fire that killed 100 share stories - FireRescue1 Jody King: They blamed three. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. Do you understand that anger? Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. Joshua Sanders, MS, IAAI-CFI on LinkedIn: ATF_NCETR on Twitter 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.". He was the. 48 Hours show makes no mention of Station nightclub's overcrowding In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. [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. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. I said to myself, we gotta go. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. The Station Nightclub Fire: Revisiting the Lessons Why had the fire spread so quickly? The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the 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. Most people still just stood there. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. 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. 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. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. into the main barroom. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. At least 64 others were also sued, including the state of Rhode Island citedforthe fire inspector's failure to report the flammable foam during multiple inspections. 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. *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. 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. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. A decade ago, a survivor . [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. [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. [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. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Jeff Derderian: There's so many things that factor into the decision to do that. We couldn't make it. "[23] Within 40 seconds of the ignition, Great White had stopped playing and left the stage and the venue's fire alarm began to sound, but it was not connected to local fire department. 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. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. 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 Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for And settled for $1 million. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. 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. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud night. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see Great White, an 80s band now with some new members lead by singer Jack Russell and known mainly for their hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy. "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " there are other people who should be responsible. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." 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. Many of the families believed that the punishment was just; others had hoped for a more severe sentence. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. Multiple injured after shooting at San Jose nightclub | KRON4 [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. 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. I couldn't play an instrument. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. Survivors and friends of survivors active in the effort to turn the nightclub site in West Warwick into a memorial park recount the emotional journeys that brought them from 2003 to 2018.. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. Station fire, 15 years later: Survivors tell their stories Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. 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. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. Scott James: You have four exits. 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. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center.
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