station nightclub fire survivors list

It did not. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. Patrick Lynch: Not only was the door up, which it shouldn't have been, opened inward which it shouldn't have It was covered in foam. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. 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. 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. That's what the code says. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. [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. Russell 's bandmate Ty Longley (guitar) was one of the people who perished in The Station blaze, which became the fourth deadliest fire in U.S. history. Jim Axelrod is the chief investigative correspondent and senior national correspondent for CBS News, reporting for "CBS This Morning," "CBS Evening News," "CBS Sunday Morning" and other CBS News broadcasts. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Mon, February 20th 2023, 8:29 PM PST. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque. 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. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. 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. It's like a surge of bodies. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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 Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the fire. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. The charge is pending. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. He turned back to see the crowd bottle-necked at the stage. She paused, her eyes tearing. [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. Do you understand that anger? They all later accepted plea deals. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. [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. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. I miss Tina a lot. It was criminal, he says. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. 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 don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. And he's like he don't know. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the Derderians said they wanted to set the record straight and reveal new information about that foam and accountability. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. 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. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. Like, "get away from the building." The club was sold. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . 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. They were told to take it down. [9][10][8] At the time of their performance at the Station, Great White only had two of its original members in its lineup: Lead singer Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall. The message is, Dont forget. Never forget these people or forget what happened., Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. 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. Their story starts three years before the fire. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. 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. These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. 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. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. And I stood up. [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. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. [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. 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. [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. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. It would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. 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. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. "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. and I just kind of went down on my face. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in 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. She got out. Share. The Feb. 20, 2003. . [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? [tears up, shaking his head]. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. [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. Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. 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. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. And a quarter of those people didn't get to go home ever," says survivor Linda Saran, who was severely burned in the fire at The Station nightclub. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. 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. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Patrick Lynch: The type of foam was equal to gallons of gasoline. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. Great White was part of the lawsuit. But with last springs dedication of the memorial on the old nightclub site, Del Sesto said she thinks she has found a way not to forget, but to live with the memories. 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. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. He don't know. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. [78], On the twentieth anniversary of the fire on February 20, 2023, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee ordered flags in Rhode Island lowered to half-staff for the day and the Rhode Island State House to be illuminated in memory of the 100 victims. I remember getting pushed from behind. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. Biechele. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. This is solid gasoline. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. [13], In February 2003, Great White was on an eighteen date concert tour, and they had been using a pyrotechnic display during their performances that some club owners had denied them permission to use, citing safety concerns. "[58] The state parole board received approximately twenty letters, the majority of which expressed their sympathy and support for Biechele, some going as far as to describe him as a "scapegoat" with limited responsibility. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. 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.. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos 98 PHOTOS More Stories Has fire prevention in RI improved since The Station fire? Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. 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? As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. [49][50], Lynch told 48 Hours that his investigation found that the fire spread quickly due to the foam the Derderians had installed in the Station's walls and ceilings as a response to noise complaints. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. ", "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. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. He was the. The TIAs required automatic fire sprinklers in all existing nightclubs and similar locations that accommodate more than 100 occupants, and all new locations in the same categories. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Michael Derderian: Zero. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. 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 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. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. In fact, they did the opposite.". Even if he died trying. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. So that was huge.. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. It didn't have a lock on it. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. One near the bar. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. I couldn't hear noise. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. In February 2006 three years after the station nightclub burned down many in Rhode Island were shocked to learn that instead of a trial, a plea deal had been reached with Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for the band Great White. 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. And I knew the window was to my left. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. You were not approaching that area at all. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. undisputable. In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. [9] In 2005, the Rhode Island Attorney General office received a fax from Barry Warner, a former employee of American Foam who lived nearby the Station, who claimed the company had known about the dangers of polyurethane foam but did not warn their employees about it. [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. It looked like it was raining black fire. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. Cold air washing over me.

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