And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". That happened in 2002. When King arrived, he saw the devastating scene. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. At first, there was no panic. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. [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. One of them is never say die, never give up. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. [21] Twenty seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing and lead singer Jack Russell calmly remarked into the microphone, "Wow that's not good. 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. [39], At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this account of the tragedy:[41]. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. And he says you can. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. Michael Derderian: That is correct. So, the only way to pick up a can of soda would be to do this [lifting both arms out parallel in front of her]. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. [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. 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? As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. 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. 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. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. Jason Hahn. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. [31], Four employees of the Station were killed in the fire. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . 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. 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. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. And settled for $1 million. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. You know people didn't react instantly. It was already in contract. 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. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. That specific. He said if there's. Russo said that the memorial serves a valuable purpose today for those who knew victims. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? The brothers have since learned that the fire marshal should have tested the foam on the wall. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. Del Sesto said her life is told in three chapters now. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. [44] The NIST report was released on March 3, 2005 and was made available in two parts on June 30, 2005. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. [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. 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. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". [36] Butler was there for a planned piece on nightclub safety being reported by Jeffrey A. Derderian, a WPRI news reporter who was also a part-owner of The Station. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. Scott James: It smelled like spilled beer and stale cigarettes and everything was just a little bit frayed at the edge. Survivors and friends of survivors active in the effort to turn the nightclub site in West Warwick into a memorial park recount the emotional journeys that brought them from 2003 to 2018.. We have an exit through the kitchen. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. They promoted the event. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. We talk about fire safety a bit, I dont get too, too far into it.. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM 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. Share. 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. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. Now, Russo leads the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, which oversees a memorial that stands where the nightclub once went up in flames, The Boston Globe reported. [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. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. The answer is no. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. 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. 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.. 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. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. They were friends. . It took a while, she said, but she thinks she had found the way to move on from it but to keep it with her as well. 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. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud night. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. You were not approaching that area at all. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. 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. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. [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. [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. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. The Feb. 20, 2003. VIEW ALL PHOTOS. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. It was completely preventable. She endured more than 50 operations. Jeff Derderian: We feel a sense of guilt about what happened in the sense that you carry the guilt of knowing that these people aren't here anymore, and these people are hurt for the rest of their life. Jody King: He trusted the club. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. Both the brothers had other jobs. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. But she refuses to live in the past. [9] Jeffrey Derderian said the door was also installed due to noise, and they had removed it as asked, but sometimes re-installed it if the venue was going to be loud that night, and it was used by the band to escape the building during the fire. 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. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. Patrick Lynch: Not only was the door up, which it shouldn't have been, opened inward which it shouldn't have It was covered in foam. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. 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. Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. Biechele and Michael Derderian went to prison. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. It justit was so fast. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. [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". It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. I had the fire extinguisher in my hand, Vanner said. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". "48 Hours" has confirmed the fax wasnotpresented to the grand jury. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. 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. Many of the families believed that the punishment was just; others had hoped for a more severe sentence. [77], A benefit memorial concert was held in February 2008 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and featured performances by Tesla, Twisted Sister, Winger, Gretchen Wilson, and John Rich. Jim Axelrod: The fire spread so quickly because rather than fire-retardant sound foam, on the wall of the club was highly flammable packing foam. 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]. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. However, on September 21, 2006, Judge Darigan announced that the brothers had changed their pleas from "not guilty" to "no contest," thereby avoiding a trial. It didn't have a lock on it. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. [48] Larocque had set various capacities for the Station in the years prior to the fire based on whether pool tables and other items could be moved. It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. He still remembers that deadly night. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. 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. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. 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. 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. I'll be right back." They want to talk to you." [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." 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. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque.
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