Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . "[63] He added that the difference in the brothers' sentences reflected their respective involvement with the purchase and installation of the flammable foam. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. [52] Speaking to the public for the first time since the fire, Biechele stated: For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night. The fire began as rock band Great White played to the crowd. 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. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. She got out. As soon as the pyrotechnics stopped, the flame had started on the egg-crate backing behind the stage, and it just went up the ceiling. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. local Four nonstop. It just so happens that we're . 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. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. Absolutely not. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. 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]. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. She endured more than 50 operations. [4] In 1985, it was converted to a pub, which closed sometime in the late 1980s, and a nightclub was opened in its place in 1991. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . [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. 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. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. So that was huge.. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. We talk about fire safety a bit, I dont get too, too far into it.. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Jody King: I see the horror. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. 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. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. I couldn't play an instrument. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. The answer is no. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. [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. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. 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.. 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. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. And they played the arenas. [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. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. 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, Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. He wrote: "This is a company that is well aware of the dangers of polyurethane foam. I miss Tina a lot. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. And the following year he was able to accomplish the impossible and rejoin his swim team. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. One near the bar. He don't know. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. 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: I decided I would start asking some questions. The TIAs also required additional crowd manager personnel, among other things. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. [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. [22] Biechele used four gerbs that were set to spray sparks 15 feet (4.6m) for fifteen seconds. It didn't have a lock on it. 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. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. Fifteen years since that terrible night. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. 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. But never once do they say, "we screwed up." Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. It was criminal, he says. The Guest List is a strikingly visual film. 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. Jim Axelrod: And then it just got engulfed in flames? 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. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. [48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. 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]. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? 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. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . In February 2008, Providence television station. 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. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. I refused to accept that as the outcome. [102] It is left for each state or local jurisdiction to legally enact and enforce the current code changes. Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" Jody King: I spent the next five or six hours going back and forth in the parking lot talking to firemen, asking firemen, "can you please pull the sheets back for me? you could not see your hand in front of your face. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. Jim Axelrod: If you have a message that you want the people of Rhode Island to hear, there were plenty of ways to get it out long before now. JEFF DERDERIAN [crying]: Many people didn't make it out and that is a horror that will haunt my family and I for the rest of our lives. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. They want to talk to you." [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. it became very, very hard to breathe. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. "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. So, to the people who think we don't own it I'm telling you, we DO own it ok? [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? We haven't played it since then and probably never will. And I stood up. 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. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. I don't care what I'm going to see.". Both the brothers had other jobs. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. In December 2003, nine months after the fire, Jeff and Michael Derderian were in court, each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter 100 for criminal negligence, and 100 for misdemeanor manslaughter. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. 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. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. It was completely preventable. 9. Tweet. 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. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. One of them is never say die, never give up. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. 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]. "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " You know people didn't react instantly. I couldn't get up. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. Gina Russo of Cranston, R.I. is a survivor of the Station nightclub fire and president of The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. He don't know. But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud 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. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. 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. 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. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. It was already in contract. Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the Station nightclub fire, one of the deadliest blazes to ever occur at a nightclub in the United States. [tears up, shaking his head]. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. And I said my hands won't work. [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. That's when I turned back. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. But what they received was highly flammable packing foam. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. [39], At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this account of the tragedy:[41]. [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. Her bill was $646 that month, she said.
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