Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. And why wasn't the foam company charged? If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. 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. 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. and I just kind of went down on my face. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. I needed for that day to come, she said. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. I can't speak Everything was, you know, sore and hoarse I picked up the pen in very weak, you know, kind of handwriting I wrote, "I hope to make progress every day.". Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. [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. 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. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. 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. I don't care what I'm going to see.". Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? [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. 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]. Michael Derderian: That is correct. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. 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. In February 2008, Providence television station. Since the fire, I have wanted to tell the victims and their families how truly sorry I am for what happened that night and the part that I had in it. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. It was completely preventable. It all started around 11 p.m. when the rock band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and the group's tour manager, Daniel Biechele, set off four large fireworks called gerbs. And outside I went. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. Patrick Lynch: I don't think there's any question that had that door not been up a significant number of people would have survived. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. it became very, very hard to breathe. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. Flames can be seen on the back wall. 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. Linda Saran: Yes. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. 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. They promoted the event. [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. 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. 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. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. They want to talk to you." Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. He was the. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. He had failed to get a license for the pyrotechnics from the State of Rhode Island and permits from the local fire department. 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. I'll be right back." Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. 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 will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. Why had the fire spread so quickly? Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. 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. A staggering 100 lives were lost. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. 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. Phil Barr: I loved it. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. 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]. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Linda Saran: My hospital roommate, he and I took turns driving the respiratory therapist crazy in some ways it's almost like being in war together. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. [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. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years . Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." it was also on fire. We couldn't make it. [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. 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. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. It fuels you. It's like a surge of bodies. You were not approaching that area at all. Scott James: You have four exits. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. 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.. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." [32] The fine was not resolved until 2013, ten years after the fire, when it was upheld by a judge. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. you could not see your hand in front of your face. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. Season 1. Like, "get away from the building." Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. [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. [42][43] The Station, which was built in 1946, was exempt from a sprinkler requirement in the state fire code through a grandfather clause, which stated that buildings constructed before 1976 were not required to have a sprinkler system. Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. 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.. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . The fire began as rock band Great White played to the crowd. 0:57. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. Even if he died trying. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? He was the. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. [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. So, I would think that the pyrotechnic provision would be in there just like we need to have, you know, 12 M&Ms, I mean, you know, and they need to be brown. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. At first, there was no panic. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. Russo said that the memorial serves a valuable purpose today for those who knew victims. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. He trusted the owners. They all later accepted plea deals. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. They would want to talk, she said, and they wouldnt freak. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? 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. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. Nine friends didnt. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. The charge is pending. 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? [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]. That happened in 2001. She paused, her eyes tearing. What kind of club was this? [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. [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. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. Vanner has no excuses. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . 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. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? The Derderians bought the club as an investment. How did you meet him? The Guest List is a strikingly visual film. 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. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. [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. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. [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. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. 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? And he says you can. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. [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. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through," explains Scott James.
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