I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. [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. And I fell down the stairs, out that door. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. It was criminal, he says. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. "[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. It would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. [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. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. Scott James: It should not have happened. 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. We screwed up." 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. He don't know. Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. [48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. But does that mean it's not a crime? Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. 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. 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. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. I couldn't get up. Well, I guess once we all started to turn toward the door, and we got bottle-necked into the front door, people just kept pushing, and eventually everyone popped out of the door, including myself. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. That was his gift. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . Stay up to date with everything Boston. 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? Michael Derderian: Zero. Jack Russell declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. S01:E01 - San Francisco Freeway Collapse. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. 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. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. And I said my hands won't work. They didn't even let him talk about it. 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. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. Biechele. The answer is no. And it was ugly. [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 brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. 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. And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. 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. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. 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. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. Jody King: He was gregarious. And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. She got out. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. 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. *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation of the fire under the authority of the National Construction Safety Team Act, using computer simulations with FDS and a mockup of the stage area and dance floor, concluded that a fire sprinkler system would have contained the fire long enough to give everyone time to exit safely. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. 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. [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]. In February 2006 three years after the station nightclub burned down many in Rhode Island were shocked to learn that instead of a trial, a plea deal had been reached with Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for the band Great White. [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. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. Fifteen years since that terrible night. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. [22] Biechele used four gerbs that were set to spray sparks 15 feet (4.6m) for fifteen seconds. Michael Derderian: Correct. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. [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. It did not. It was late on Feb. 20, 2003, when the cold winter night erupted in flames. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. 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. [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. 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. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. / CBS News. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. And I'm like, "OK.". A decade ago, a survivor . He had failed to get a license for the pyrotechnics from the State of Rhode Island and permits from the local fire department. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. The Guest List is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, killer show, the station nightclub fire, America's deadliest rock concert. And if we could change it, we would. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. 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. 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.. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. "[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. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. I am proud. 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. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. 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. 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. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. ", "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. One near the bar. They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. According to Bostonherald.com, a memorial fund that raises money for survivors of The Station nightclub fire received at least $25,000 in donations after a benefit concert aired on television, organizers said today.. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. It was like what? Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. And he says you can. "[58], Dave Kane and Joanne O'Neill, parents of youngest victim Nicholas O'Neill, released their letter to the board to reporters. 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. And outside I went. 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. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. I miss Tina a lot. [90] The band initially retired "Desert Moon", the song they were performing when the fire began, from their concert set list. "[91], Two years to the day after the fire, band members Russell and Kendall, along with Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live with three survivors of the fire and the father of Longley, to discuss how their lives had changed since the incident. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? 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. 0:57. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. fine against Station Nightclub owners upheld", "Station nightclub fire survivor tells how she's moved on in new book", "The Station fire took emotional toll on survivors, study finds", "Tentative $30 million deal in R. I. nightclub fire", "TV station that assigned reporter to cover his own nightclub raises ethical issue", "Station Video Spurs Lawsuit - Pollstar News", "Nightclub owner resigns from WPRI television", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire: Appendices (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 2", "Grand Jury Convened to Probe Deadly R.I. "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. We couldn't make it. He was the. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who is featured in a REELZ documentary about the Warwick, Rhode Island Station nightclub fire, which killed some 100 attendees of a Great White concert in 2003, 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. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. 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 [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. Tracy King died saving many others the night of the fire. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. 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. But, you know, they have this following to this day . Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. [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".