I never imagined that anyone ever would be. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. I couldn't get up. 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. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. [18][19] Gonsalves was the host of the WHJY program The Metal Zone, at the time the longest-running heavy metal radio program in the United States. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. It's like a surge of bodies. Season 1. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. 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? Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. 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. On February 20, 2003 at about 11:10 p.m., Jody King got a call that something was going on at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. They were told to take it down. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. They want to talk to you." Phil Barr: and I felt the door and I just heaved my shoulder into it. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. 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. 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. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. 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. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. Nightclub Fire", "3 indicted in R.I. rock concert fire - UPI Archives", "The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' about The Station fire, says father who lost son", "The strange and terrible true story of Great White, and the Station nightclub fire", "3 Men Are Indicted in Fire At Rhode Island Nightclub", "Foam company offers Station nightclub fire plaintiffs $6.3M settlement", "DAN BIECHELE SPEAKS Pre-Sentencing Statement GREAT WHITE TOUR MANAGER Station Nightclub Fire RI", "Fury, Tears and 4-Year Term in Deadly Blaze", "Band manager who ignited deadly Rhode Island nightclub fire freed from prison", "Manager Sentenced for Rhode Island Nightclub Fire", "Many families of Station fire victims supporting parole for band manager", "Band manager who ignited R.I. club fire is freed", "After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla", "Derderians will plead; AG says he opposes sentencing deal", "2 Brothers to Plead No Contest in R.I. Everyone carries baggage and I think at some point you figure out how to pack it and carry it with you, she said. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. Its surreal. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window." [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? He had an unlikely friend rooting for him. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. That was his gift. Michael Derderian: He's completely out of it. Its irrelevant.. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. [104] The legislation would create a tax incentive for property owners to install fire sprinkler systems. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. [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. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. 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. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. Stay up to date with everything Boston. He trusted in his friends. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. [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. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. That's what the code says. As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. 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. you could not see your hand in front of your face. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. He owned his own construction company, and he was often in the backyard with his sons, improving the landscape or building two ponds that he filled with koi fish. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Susan Nicol. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . And I took a good look and I said, "Oh, st, I'm burned.". 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? On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. In the aftermath, Vanner battled an addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol, which he used to cope but which cost him jobs and his drivers license. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. 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? And why wasn't the foam company charged? [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. [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. It was already in contract. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. It was criminal, he says. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. I'm going to do this. 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 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 people just stood there. And that song reminds us of that night. Her father wont visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, she said. Phil Barr: Yep. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. [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. [11] Although the band was officially known as Jack Russell's Great White at the time, and their tour was initially named after Russell's 2002 solo album For You, they were billed by the Station as simply Great White. 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. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. Phil Barr: I loved it. PROVIDENCE Over the years Dave Kane has had to find a place to store his outrage over losing his 18-year-old son, Nicholas, in The Station nightclub fire in 2003. 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. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. into the main barroom. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. Michael Derderian: That is correct. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. [90] The band initially retired "Desert Moon", the song they were performing when the fire began, from their concert set list. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. The brothers have since learned that the fire marshal should have tested the foam on the wall. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. Jody King: He trusted the club. 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.. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. Jody King: He ran in and came out nine times in 90 seconds. [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. In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. 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. [22] During the performance, pyrotechnics set off by tour manager Daniel Biechele ignited the flammable acoustic foam on both sides and the top center of the drummer's alcove at the back of the stage. 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. They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She took a photograph of the stone of a man who died and sent it to his daughter in California. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones. Even if he died trying. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. [102] It is left for each state or local jurisdiction to legally enact and enforce the current code changes. 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. and I just kind of went down on my face. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. He was the. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. Why had the fire spread so quickly? People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." Both the brothers had other jobs. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. I refused to accept that as the outcome. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. [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. 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. You should be proud." The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. [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. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. [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. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. 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. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. We screwed up." Jody King: They blamed three. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. Jody King: I see the horror. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. Tracy King died saving many others the night of the fire. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? I found my soul was wanting.. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers.
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