station nightclub fire survivors list

Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. Linda Saran: Yes. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." The roof was caving in, walls were caving in, body after body in front of me. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. There had to be that period for me. "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. And if we could change it, we would. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. Sparks from the gerbs ignited the insulation foam, and flames were visible on the wall above the stage within nine seconds of their ignition. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. [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. 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 settled for $1 million. 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.. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. "48 Hours" has confirmed the fax wasnotpresented to the grand jury. One guy did crawl out. The Foam.". Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. Stephen Sweet, a Quincy firefighter who lost his cousin Shawn Sweet in the fire, came to play the bagpipes at a memorial ceremony Monday, WCVB reported. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. As we hold those impacted by this tragedy close in our hearts, we also remember the remarkable and courageous actions of first responders, public safety officials, medical professionals, and Rhode Islanders who sprang into action to save lives on that day and who worked to comfort their communities in the days and weeks following.. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. That happened in 2001. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. ", Scott James: They had their moments. The Station Nightclub Fire Tragedy Memorial Site - Legacy.com The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. [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. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. [33] One survivor claimed that a bouncer blocked a side door as attendees attempted to escape the building, stating the door was only to be used by the band. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through," explains Scott James. These days, she uses her job as a teacher at John F. Deering Middle School to make it so those who didnt suffer so directly will remember it too. 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. REELZ announces documentary about Great White club fire In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1. Flames can be seen on the back wall. 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. "It feels like somebody knew somebody who was in that fire or knew somebody who did, so the pain is very personal.". Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. 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. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" He trusted in his friends. The Station nightclub fire: What happened, how many died, who was 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. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". 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. 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. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [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. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. Jody King: He trusted the club. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. Inside The Inferno: The Station Nightclub Fire | Thought Catalog Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. Two years after the fire at 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. In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. SAVE | California Fire Foundation It did not. But, you know, they have this following to this day . Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. [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. [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. I have to find him. 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. 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. Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. In February 2008, Providence television station. Like, "get away from the building." And I knew the window was to my left. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. But I should have at least tried.. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. Its surreal. The third started that day. 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. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. About The Guest List We took shortcuts. That's when I turned back. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. Barr says when he came to, he felt excruciating pain near the base of his spine and burning on his face. [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. my dad was in the room. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" He don't know. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. . [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. And he's like he don't know. Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . That night is not a coherent memory for her, she said, but a sequence of moments when she was hyper-focused on finding her friends or helping those around her. [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. The charge is pending. 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.". [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. But she refuses to live in the past. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. I'm going to do this. And outside I went. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. The morning after the fire, the lead singer of Great White, Jack Russell, claimed the brothers had given the band permission to set off the fireworks. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. They were friends. He turned back to see the crowd bottle-necked at the stage. Purchase and sale had been signed. Jeff Derderian: There's so many things that factor into the decision to do that. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. 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? [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. I cant do it for the rest of my life, 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. 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. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. 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. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. 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. She saw friends who had lost people they loved, others who had been burned and scarred by the fire, and felt embarrassed that she got out physically unharmed. The fire began as rock band Great White played to the crowd. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Survivor of Rhode Island Station Nightclub Fire Rebuilds His Life 14 Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. I miss Tina a lot. And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. I've been after this bike for over 4 years and I finally got the call! As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. 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. into the main barroom. Jim Axelrod: And then it just got engulfed in flames? Survivors of The Station nightclub fire struggle with guilt 20 years Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. One of them is never say die, never give up. 48 Hours show makes no mention of Station nightclub's overcrowding And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. San Jose shooting suspect prepared 'to take as many lives as he I had no control over my muscles. 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. I couldn't hear noise. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. [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. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Saturday marks the 18-year anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire that left lasting scars on numerous families and the state of Rhode Island. [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. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary - Yurview The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? It's like a surge of bodies. [34], Providence Phoenix columnist Ian Donnis wrote of the effect that the fire had on the close-knit Rhode Island community, "The loss of so much life would represent a tragedy anywhere, but it struck especially hard in Rhode Island, the nation's smallest state, where no place is more than an hour away by car and the fire claimed one tenth of one percent of the state's population. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. That specific. [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. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. That was his gift. Michael Derderian: That is correct. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. It was criminal, he says. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. 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. 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. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. [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. That's what the code says. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window." Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. 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. Why had the fire spread so quickly? [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax.

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