he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." 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 [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. 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. They all came so every single one of those hundred students held up a white rose and they represented one of the 100 [who died]. 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. [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. 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. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. I remember getting pushed from behind. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. And people stood and watched it, and some people backed off. 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. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. 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 manslaughter. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. She got out. 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. And I'm like, "OK.". DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. He trusted in his friends. The club was sold. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. Fifteen years since that terrible night. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. [29] The initial death toll was 96 people; Four more individuals died in the hospital in the weeks following, bringing the toll to 100. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. 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? They all later accepted plea deals. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. Share. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. 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. Biechele and Michael Derderian went to prison. Many of the families believed that the punishment was just; others had hoped for a more severe sentence. [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. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. Why had the fire spread so quickly? More than 460 fans had crowded into the wooden, single-story, 4,480 -square-foot nightclub known as The Station in West Warwick, R.I., to enjoy a Thursday night show on Feb. 20, 2003. 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. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. 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. He still remembers that deadly night. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. 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]. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. 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.. 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. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. That specific. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. 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.. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. 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. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. We're running out of time." [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. Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". And I said my hands won't work. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. 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. I couldn't play an instrument. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. 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. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. That happened in 2001. 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. About 40 seconds after the song began, Great White stopped the show and all but one member of the band escaped through the stage door exit. [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. . It did not. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. They want to talk to you." In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. [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. 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. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. And that song reminds us of that night. [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. Michael Derderian: That is correct. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. "[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. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. 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. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. They were friends. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. That was in like the 80s. A West Warwick police officer who was already at the scene also reported the fire to police dispatch. Jason Hahn. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. into the main barroom. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. But it's fun. And settled for $1 million. That happened in 2002. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. And he says you can. 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. Michael Derderian: Correct. Absolutely not. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. [35], The fire, from its inception, was caught on videotape by cameraman Brian Butler for WPRI-TV of Providence, and the beginning of that tape was released to national news stations. 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. Scott James: You have four exits. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? That's how thick the smoke was. Phil Barr: and I felt the door and I just heaved my shoulder into it. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. I miss Tina a lot. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. 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. I needed for that day to come, she said. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. 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. Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. Tracy King died saving many others the night of the fire. 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. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. 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. But Saturday night, as . Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. 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. There isn't a guilt in terms of like, that we knowingly did this or or caused it but there's a guilt that we it happened on our watch, happened on our watch. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. Most people still just stood there. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. Bruce Cain also lost someone who he was prepared to spend the rest of his life with. Linda Saran: Yes. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. 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. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. The trunk bears the names of the fire victims. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. Russo said that the memorial serves a valuable purpose today for those who knew victims. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. But with last years dedication of the Station Memorial Park on the site of the nightclub, she said she found that along with the scars, that night had provided her with a purpose in life and people she would otherwise never have known. 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. ", Scott James: They had their moments. Everybody just kind of turned. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. 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? [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. [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. They promoted the event. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. "[58], Dave Kane and Joanne O'Neill, parents of youngest victim Nicholas O'Neill, released their letter to the board to reporters. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. [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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. So that was huge.. He doesn't know. [9] Michael Derderian told 48 Hours that it was "Undisputable" that the building's use of flammable packing foam instead of flame retardant sound foam was the cause of the fire's spread, but the brothers claimed that they had ordered sound foam and had received the packing foam instead. 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. S01:E01 - San Francisco Freeway Collapse. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. [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. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. She endured more than 50 operations. [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. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. 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 never thought it would get so bad., He told bartender Julie Mellini that they had to leave, and she and several patrons followed Vanner out the kitchen door. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. 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. 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. He turned back to see the crowd bottle-necked at the stage. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. "[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. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. 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. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. 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. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. He don't know. [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]. Vanner has no excuses. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. [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. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. amarillo high basketball state championship, joseph moreno amina now, dennis taylor racing net worth,