On Feb. 20, 2003 100 people were killed and more than 200 injured after a fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. 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. Prosecutor Randall White urged a sentence of ten years, Biechele frequently paused to choke back tears, 10 Things You Learn From Being Raised By A StrongMother, Heres The Most Notorious Murder From EveryState, Here Is The Scariest Urban Legend From EveryState, 10 Of The Most Horrifying Concert Tragedies InHistory. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. And I stood up. . and our Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. Search with an image file or link to find similar images, Search for stock images, vectors and videos. Copyright 2023 FireRescue1. Patrick Lynch: The type of foam was equal to gallons of gasoline. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. They all later accepted plea deals. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. "There was nothing heroic about what I did.". 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. 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. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. red heat in the underground. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. You know people didn't react instantly. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. Both the brothers had other jobs. Unfortunately, Jeff lost his life in the fire. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. We have an exit through the kitchen. Doomed fans stuck in the doorway of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. these contracts are pretty specific. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. All three reached plea deals, with the tour manager pleading guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter and the brothers pleading no contest. Flames soon appeared on the walls on either side of the stage and spread quickly along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling, intended to dampen sound. It looked like it was raining black fire. "It would have been my legacy," Vanner said. Dan Biechele committed a misdemeanor that night without any way of knowing the stage had been set for what the Attorney General is calling the perfect storm. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. Scott James: You have four exits. It claimed 100 lives and left some 230 other people injured. While many say they will never get over it, they have found a way to get along with it. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The brothers who owned the club and Great Whites tour manager were charged in the fire. The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island started when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White set fire to flammable foam installed as soundproofing. Also, the last picture taken by a person just before their death is acceptable. Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? "As we're 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?'" Firefighters continue to work at the smoldering scene of a deadly fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. Friday, Feb. 21, 2003. I will never forget that night and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. One near the bar. This is solid gasoline. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. A Trenton, New Jersey train station in 1967. 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. They were friends. That's what the code says. That happened in 2001. "I try to say it in the lightest way possible," she said. " 10. 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? Cameraman Brian Butler was at The Station on February 23, 2003. The answer is no. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. Jim Axelrod: How do you know he went in nine times? But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. Jeff was sentenced to three years probation and 500 hours of community service. The Station Nightclub fire victim count grew to 100. A band that was performing that night used pyrotechnics that ignited polyurethane foam insulation lining the walls and ceiling of the stage platform. she said. John Barylick in Killer Show points out that there is reason to believe the Derderians gave permission since the club had a history of pyrotechnics in shows. 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. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. Purchase and sale had been signed. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. "I needed for that day to come," she said. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. "And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was 'oh, his hair's fantastic. Who was responsible for The Station nightclub fire. . It was already in contract. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. "They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldn't have. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. Investigators and fire personnel can be seen in front of the burned out shell. Colorado lawmakers "belly flop" on water crisis, opting for further study of Colorado River over action, experts say, Colorado property tax relief: Polis, lawmakers reveal plan to ease skyrocketing tax bills, Kiszla: Avs embarrass themselves with silence about Valeri Nichushkin's mysterious absence following reported 9-1-1 call, Images, suicide note released in mall massacre, Avalanche's Stanley Cup defense sputters to end in Game 7 of first round vs. underdog Seattle Kraken, Kraken-Avs Game 7 Quick Hits: Philipp Grubauer gets last laugh on Colorado fans, Avs, Ask Amy: A gentleman ponders gender salutations, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.". Realizing the truth, Biechele gasped, I think Im in trouble. Fire reached the ceiling. "It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen," she said. And a quarter of those people didn't get to go home ever," says survivor Linda Saran, who was severely burned in the fire at The Station nightclub. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? BUY TWO IMAGES, GET THE LOWEST PRICE IMAGE HALF PRICE WITH CODE: 50%OFFNEXTIMAGE. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. February 20, 2003. Like, "get away from the building." He refused to talk with reporters and entered an automobile driven by a lawyer. He said, We do not allow pyrotechnics and it got us by surprise.. And he's like he don't know. Making a profit was more important than safety (see the Cocoanut Grove Fire, 1942; The Triangle Shirtwaist . A lone gunman, Omar Mateen, shot and killed 49 patrons and wounded another 53 at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. A surgery to correct a childhood ailment with his ears left him able to balance objects on his chin. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. Enter https://www.firerescue1.com/ and click OK. 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. But the night of the fire it was up to help cut down the noise. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. Weather Traffic Station nightclub fire Names are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Fifteen years from now, she hopes, her students will go by the park, and have a memory, a connection, with the 100 people whose names and faces are etched into black granite squares arrayed throughout the park. Since he co-owned The Station nightclub with his brother Michael Derderian, Jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. But she refuses to live in the past. The 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. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. I never thought it would get so bad. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Lexipol. He tells her he wishes that he'd tried to extinguish the fire. The Station nightclub fire killed 100 people and injured hundreds more on February 20, 2003. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". 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. They want to talk to you." The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) asserted a. The roof was caving in, walls were caving in, body after body in front of me. I'll be right back." Even if he died trying. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. He arrived early around 8:30 p.m. Phil Barr: There really weren't that many people around early in the night. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. I don't care what I'm going to see.". 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? By now even the slowest people to react are in a frenzied state of panic. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. . So, I would think that the pyrotechnic provision would be in there just like we need to have, you know, 12 M&Ms, I mean, you know, and they need to be brown. And Paul Vanner didn't like what he saw. undisputable. They behaved without flexibility despite the emergency. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. One near the bar. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, Open the tools menu in your browser. In this Feb. 20, 2003 file photo, firefighters spray water on to the charred remains of the nightclub, The Station located in West Warwick, R.I., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003. And if we could change it, we would. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. Keeler: Chris Paul got dirty. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . The Derderians bought the club as an investment. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. And settled for $1 million. Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. One of those men was the club's bouncer, Tracy King." . They didn't even let him talk about it. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. and I just kind of went down on my face. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. That happened in 2002. The 4,484 square foot, mostly wood interior, club was set at a 420 person capacity. I submit that a brutal, draconian sentence like ten years in prison is not warranted by Dan Biecheles conduct.. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? "Literally laid there and said, 'God please just take care of my family,' because I knew I was going to die,'" survivor Linda Saran recalls. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. At least 86 people were reportedly killed by the blaze. He lost his work-release job and was transferred from minimum to medium security.. fire began late Thursday and destroyed the structure, and which officials say has taken the life of at least 85 people may be related to band's pyrotechnics. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. There's an exit near the stage. Thinking it part of the show, people shouted, Its great!. He trusted the owners. I know how this tragedy has devastated me but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. He don't know. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. Did a Wisconsin man's lies lead to the murders of his parents? Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. A firefighter holds his hand to his forehead as he stands amidst the rubble at the scene of a deadly fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. Friday, Feb. 21, 2003. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all.

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