station nightclub fire survivors list

Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. But never once do they say, "we screwed up." When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. Share. 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. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. One near the bar. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. They are speaking out about the fire for the first time. [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. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. Nothing lifts his despair. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. And I was responsible for the day to day. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. Its surreal. First of all, I don't know you would, how would you how would you accomplish the detail and the amount of new information in a news conference or, you know, a commercial or something that we would try and do on our own. [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. You were not approaching that area at all. 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. 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. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. [81] In August 2016, the site was reported to have been being used as a PokeStop in Pokmon Go, to uproar from victims' families. Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. [21] The flames were initially thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to bank down did people realize it was uncontrolled. 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. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. Most people still just stood there. Flames can be seen on the back wall. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. He don't know. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. Survivors of the Station nightclub fire reflect on tragedy's 20th anniversary One hundred people were killed and many more injured when a pyrotechnic display caused a massive blaze in 2003.. [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]. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. 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. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. He was the. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. I'm going to do this. Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. 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. How he went from being a man with a job he loved and friends, to someone struggling with sobriety and guilt, suffering flashbacks at fire alarms and smoke-like fog. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. He trusted the owners. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. [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. And I knew the window was to my left. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. Gina Russo has no clear memory of how, with her hair on fire, she got out of the Station nightclub the night of Feb. 20, 2003. The 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. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. And outside I went. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. As were going down the stairs to get into the comedy club, in the heart of Times Square, the first thought that goes through my mind: I come back and look and go: Are there two exits down there? she said. 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. 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]. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. And people just stood there. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. [99] 41 and a film based on O'Neill's play They Walk Among Us were aired by Rhode Island PBS in February 2013 in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the fire. [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 are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. I found my soul was wanting.. So, before I knew it, this finger was contractured down in this position and the rest of them were all bent backwards because the skin had tightened up.". Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. 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. Gina Russo of Cranston, R.I. is a survivor of the Station nightclub fire and president of The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. The pyrotechnics ignited the walls on either side of the stage and within seconds flames spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling of the club intended to dampen sound. Vanner has no excuses. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . 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. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. ", "Fire in a nightclub: the band; group persevered by making circuit of smaller clubs", "How tragedy inspired one member of Great White", "Rhode Island Remembers Victims Of Deadly GREAT WHITE Concert Fire", "Club, band dispute permission to use fireworks - Feb. 22, 2003", "Memories sear survivor of fire that killed 100 in 2003", "Parents mourn loss of only child in nightclub fire, but cherish time they had after first near-death experience", "Radio station to remain in fire lawsuits", "Clear Channel agrees to pay $22 million to nightclub fire victims", "Portraits of people who died in the R.I. nightclub fire", "Timeline: What happened the night of the Station nightclub fire? The third started that day. One of them is never say die, never give up. 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. "[63] He added that the difference in the brothers' sentences reflected their respective involvement with the purchase and installation of the flammable foam. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. 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. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. But what they received was highly flammable packing foam. Its irrelevant.. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. For people to know you can go there now and look at this beautiful park and talk to your person thats what I love about it.. 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. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. [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. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. "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. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. I figured I was on my own at that point.. I went back around the front again, and that's when you saw people stacked on top of each other, trying to get out of the front door. I had no control over my muscles. 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. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. Both the brothers had other jobs. In December 2003, nine months after the fire, Jeff and Michael Derderian were in court, each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter 100 for criminal negligence, and 100 for misdemeanor manslaughter. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. 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. 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. 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. Mon, February 20th 2023, 8:29 PM PST. [7][8] They were best known for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. 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]. He trusted in his friends. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. [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. 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. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. 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. Jim Axelrod: Mr. Warner's fax wasn't presented to the grand jury, correct? *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. Michael Derderian: He's completely out of it. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. 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. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. [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. I needed for that day to come, she said. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. 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? (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. It was like what? And they played the arenas. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? [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. So that was huge.. Jeff Derderian: Why is it OK that the fire marshal is allowed to miss something or make a mistake and what he did was just an oops, but what we did was criminal? One hundred people died, and hundreds more suffered. 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. [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. Nightclub Fire", "Judge Accepts Plea Deal in Rhode Island Fire", "Co-owner of R.I. club where 100 died to be released early", "Band to pay $1M in case over deadly club fire", "Great White offers $1M to settle fatal fire suits", "Derderians reach settlement in nightclub fire", "Governments offer $20 million in RI nightclub fire", "Packaging company settles in R.I. nightclub fire", "McLaughlin & Moran, Anheuser-Busch offer $21M settlement in Station fire case", "Home Depot Settles In R.I. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. We haven't played it since then and probably never will. Do you understand that anger? [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. Her father wont visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, she said. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. [2] The three were each charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in violation of a misdemeanor. Jason Hahn. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. 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.

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