station nightclub fire survivors list

[29] The initial death toll was 96 people; Four more individuals died in the hospital in the weeks following, bringing the toll to 100. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. [32] In April 2003, The Derderians were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. 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. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. And why wasn't the foam company charged? [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. It did not. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. 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. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. 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. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The owners of The Station nightclub say their decision to finally speak publicly about the deadly fire there nearly . [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. Michael Derderian: He's completely out of it. Biechele and Michael Derderian went to prison. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. [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. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. We couldn't make it. 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. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. [21] The flames were initially thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to bank down did people realize it was uncontrolled. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. He says he managed to escape through the front door before a stampede of people got stuck in the narrow hallway and blocked the exit. [21] Thick smoke began to fill the station one minute after the ignition and the crowd began to escape the building. The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. And I stood up. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. [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. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. REELZ today announced the network's original documentary America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List premieres February 20th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT presenting the deeply personal stories of lives forever altered by the tragic Station nightclub fire that left 100 people dead, more than 200 injured and devastated the tight-knit community of West Warwick, Rhode Island. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the fire. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. [89] The band raised $185,000 for the Station Family Fund during the tour. Share. But Saturday night, as . Jim Axelrod: Mr. Warner's fax wasn't presented to the grand jury, correct? In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. Jody King: I see the horror. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. I went back around the front again, and that's when you saw people stacked on top of each other, trying to get out of the front door. He trusted the owners. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. Survivors of the Station nightclub fire reflect on tragedy's 20th anniversary One hundred people were killed and many more injured when a pyrotechnic display caused a massive blaze in 2003.. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. Jeff Derderian: I don't know. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Scott James: It should not have happened. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. / CBS News. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. Susan Nicol. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. These days, she uses her job as a teacher at John F. Deering Middle School to make it so those who didnt suffer so directly will remember it too. An off-duty police officer standing outside had heard her kicking at the window. 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. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. 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. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. [5] Local bands that had played at the Station prior to the fire had used pyrotechnics during their concerts without incident, including a Kiss tribute band that had set off fireballs during their show in August 2002. WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years . 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 Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" 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. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. That's when I turned back. Cold air washing over me. [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. It looked like it was raining black fire. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. [28] By 1:30 a.m. on February 21, all patients had been transported and the street had been cleared. Jeff Derderian: There's so many things that factor into the decision to do that. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. [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". "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. In the aftermath, West Warwick, Rhode Island TV news reporter Jeff Derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. 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 see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. The brothers, however, find that hard to believe considering the foam covered the walls, ceiling and even the inward swinging door he cited as a violation. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. We have an exit through the kitchen. That's how thick the smoke was. That was the most important thing, they didnt freak.. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. She got out. Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. 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. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. He had an unlikely friend rooting for him. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. 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? 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. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. And it was ugly. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". 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. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. They were told to take it down. [12] Great White's popularity had waned in the decade prior to the Station fire, and they had been performing on a touring circuit of small clubs with capacities of up to 500 people. He still remembers that deadly night. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. 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]. 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. 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. He don't know. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. And 18 years after the fire, the brothers say they want to set the record straight and reveal new information. [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. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. It looked like a ladder of those black jelly bracelets from the 80s hanging in rings around my wrists. The club was sold. Great White's tour manager Daniel Biechele also faced the same charges. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. 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. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. and I just kind of went down on my face. The Foam.". 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. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. Firefighters responded within five minutes, and the building was fully engulfed within six minutes, according to a timeline assembled by WPRI. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. [2][46] On December 9, 2003, the grand jury announced indictments against Station owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White road manager Daniel M. There was no one coming out the back door anymore. That was his gift. Nine friends didnt. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. 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 "It's hard to describe the level of agony. You know people didn't react instantly. 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? He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window."

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