station nightclub fire survivors list

The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), R.I. State House homeless encampment removed after legal fight, After the 80th anniversary of the tragic fire, a Cocoanut Grove memorial is coming to Boston, This affordable airline says it will bring at least 20 routes to an R.I. airport. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. [90] Russell planned to donate the proceeds to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but the organization asked to be disassociated from the concert, citing the animosity still felt by many of the survivors and surviving families. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. He was the. 0:57. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. This is the time to leave. "[5], Many of the survivors of the fire developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the event. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. Nothing lifts his despair. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. 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. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. And that's when I noticed the black on my arms. [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. 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. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Its surreal. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. 'We've been trying to move forward': Station nightclub fire survivor on According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. About The Guest List Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. Even if he died trying. And why wasn't the foam company charged? Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. It didn't have a lock on it. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. 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. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. I went around back. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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.. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" 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.. They should have blamed more. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. [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. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos - The Providence Journal They didn't even let him talk about it. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the foam. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. [58] Others pointed out that Biechele had sent handwritten letters to the families of each of the 100 victims and that he had a work release position in a local charity. It just so happens that we're . The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. Jim Axelrod: When the foam came, was there anything on the packaging that indicated that it was highly flammable? But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . And while they weren't charged in the criminal case, survivors and victims' families sued them in civil court for not warning the Derderians the foam they sent them was flammable. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. The Guest List: Documentary about The Station nightclub fire will It was like what? Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Jim Axelrod is the chief investigative correspondent and senior national correspondent for CBS News, reporting for "CBS This Morning," "CBS Evening News," "CBS Sunday Morning" and other CBS News broadcasts. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. [43][45], An investigation of the fire by a Rhode Island state grand jury was started by then-Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch on February 26, 2003. Witnesses of the nearly mile-wide tornado recount how they managed to survive. Survivor of The Station nightclub fire reflects on 20th anniversary "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . Patrick Lynch: The defendant had every right to go to trial and say, hey, if it's this mysterious fax that it's trying to be referenced today, 18 years later, hey, this is important. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. It was completely preventable. [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. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. The Station Nightclub Fire: Revisiting the Lessons It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. Both the brothers had other jobs. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. 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. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. That's how thick the smoke was. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. 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. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. ", Scott James: They had their moments. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. He wrote: "This is a company that is well aware of the dangers of polyurethane foam. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. He had failed to get a license for the pyrotechnics from the State of Rhode Island and permits from the local fire department. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. I refused to accept that as the outcome. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. February 20 is the 19th anniversary of the tragic fire that killed 100 and injured another 230 people at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. [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. 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, I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. In February 2008, Providence television station. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. The Station was a nightclub that was located on the corner of Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 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]. / CBS News. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. We haven't played it since then and probably never will. But I made a choice. It was really everything to me at that time. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. Do you understand that anger? The club was sold. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. 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. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? First published on October 23, 2021 / 11:18 PM. 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. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. It was that fast. On May 10, 2006, State Prosecutor Randall White asked that Biechele be sentenced to ten years in prison, the maximum allowed under the plea bargain, citing the massive loss of life in the fire and the need to send a message. And I took a good look and I said, "Oh, st, I'm burned.". "Why me?" 20 years later, Station nightclub fire survivors talk guilt The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. They were told to take it down. 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. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. Father of youngest Station nightclub fire victim questions why owners 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. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. It was criminal, he says. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. 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 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.