[94] Kendall's version of Great White was to perform at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut alongside Stryper and Steven Adler on March 25, 2023, but the venue indefinitely postponed the concert on March 2, citing its proximity to the twentieth anniversary of the fire. 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. And why wasn't the foam company charged? 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. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. They want to talk to you." He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. That's how thick the smoke was. Everybody just kind of turned. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. One near the bar. Dan McKee honored the victims, their families, and the first responders who saved many lives. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. Jeff Derderian, seated right, says, "You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form.". The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? ", Scott James: They had their moments. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. And people just stood there. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." [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]. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. Tracy died never giving up. To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. 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. In fact, they did the opposite.". "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. Scott James: You have four exits. Stay up to date with everything Boston. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. [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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. And they're quick to point out the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. "[63] He added that the difference in the brothers' sentences reflected their respective involvement with the purchase and installation of the flammable foam. 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. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!" Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. He was the. [85] By April 2016, $1.65 million of the $2 million fundraising goal had been achieved and construction of the Station Fire Memorial Park had commenced. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. 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. [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. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. [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. 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. [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. The trunk bears the names of the fire victims. Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. [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. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. Cassidy was questioned by Customs and Border Protection in 2016, three sources familiar with the probe . 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. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. [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". [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. 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. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . ", "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. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. But, you know, they have this following to this day . Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. Vanner wonders whether he could have saved them. Phil Barr: I loved it. Linda Saran: Yes. Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. I couldn't get up. 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. "48 Hours" has confirmed the fax wasnotpresented to the grand jury. 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. Michael Derderian: Correct. She took a photograph of the stone of a man who died and sent it to his daughter in California. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. [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. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. 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. [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. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? He trusted the owners. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. He still remembers that deadly night. 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. 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.. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Isn't that an important fact in determining who's at fault? But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. 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. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. A West Warwick police officer who was already at the scene also reported the fire to police dispatch. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. He trusted in his friends. To the families of those who died on that devastating day: Rhode Island will never forget your loved ones and we will always stand by you, McKee said in the statement. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. 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. [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. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM We talk about fire safety a bit, I dont get too, too far into it.. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. It was really everything to me at that time. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. [76] The Rhode Island state fire code was changed after the fire to require every nightclub in the state with a capacity of over 150 people to have a sprinkler system installed.[3]. We screwed up." Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. And it was ugly. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. The answer is no. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. [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. Scott James: It should not have happened. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. It didn't have a lock on it. And if we could change it, we would. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. 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. And I hear [moves her arms to the side with a whoosh] and out Deb went. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. They all later accepted plea deals. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. there are other people who should be responsible. [47] Larocque was not charged by the grand jury, as Lynch had cited a state law that prevented charges against fire marshals without proof of bad faith. CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. Both the brothers had other jobs. 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. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. [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. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. Like, "get away from the building." [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. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Parole board chairwoman Lisa Holley told journalists of her surprise at the forgiving attitude of the families, saying, "I think the most overwhelming part of it for me was the depth of forgiveness of many of these families that have sustained such a loss. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. He wrote: "This is a company that is well aware of the dangers of polyurethane foam. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. Why had the fire spread so quickly? You were not approaching that area at all. 0:57. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. 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. A staggering 100 lives were lost. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. Jeff Derderian: I remember we were trying to get people away from the building. It was like what? [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. I found my soul was wanting.. 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. 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. But I should have at least tried.. "It feels like somebody knew somebody who was in that fire or knew somebody who did, so the pain is very personal.". Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. 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.. 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. 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. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. It was liquid fire. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. 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. [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. Two decades after 100 people were killed in the West Warwick, R.I. fire, those affected by the incident are reflecting on that tragic night. [104] It was last introduced in the House in 2015 by then-U.S. Reps. James Langevin of Rhode Island and Tom Reed of New York.[104]. Out of it. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. Its surreal. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. 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. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Phil Barr: Yep. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years .
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