Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. [2] The club was cited for nine minor code violations during the first inspection in November 2002, but was not cited for the flammable polyurethane foam the venue used for soundproofing, which was against code. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through," explains Scott James. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. *One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. Jeff Derderian, seated right, says, "You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form.". His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. She wrote a book, meets with burn victims, talks to fire departments and fire safety groups across the country. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. But with last springs dedication of the memorial on the old nightclub site, Del Sesto said she thinks she has found a way not to forget, but to live with the memories. So, it was very quickly they were in the circle of people we should look at. [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. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. One near the bar. It was like what? It did not. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. We have an exit through the kitchen. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. And I was responsible for the day to day. 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. 0:57. Purchase and sale had been signed. He don't know. I had no control over my muscles. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. 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. Tweet. 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.. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. 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. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. Russell 's bandmate Ty Longley (guitar) was one of the people who perished in The Station blaze, which became the fourth deadliest fire in U.S. history. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. We're running out of time." The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. I miss Tina a lot. [2], Prior to the fire, the Station often hosted concerts by 1980s hard rock groups and tribute bands. I've been after this bike for over 4 years and I finally got the call! For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. The third started that day. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Linda Saran: The night of the fire I got in for free. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. Flames can be seen on the back wall. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. [92], Russell left Great White in 2010. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. I refused to accept that as the outcome. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. [11] For the 2003 tour, the band was billed as "Jack Russell's Great White". In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. I look at my scars every day. [78], On the twentieth anniversary of the fire on February 20, 2023, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee ordered flags in Rhode Island lowered to half-staff for the day and the Rhode Island State House to be illuminated in memory of the 100 victims. Vanner has no excuses. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. It made me realize, I might be only one person, but my story and my injuries were making people listen, she said. Why had the fire spread so quickly? It was that fast. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. But with last years dedication of the Station Memorial Park on the site of the nightclub, she said she found that along with the scars, that night had provided her with a purpose in life and people she would otherwise never have known. I never thought it would get so bad., He told bartender Julie Mellini that they had to leave, and she and several patrons followed Vanner out the kitchen door. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. The Station was owned by brothers Michael and Jeff Derderian. ", "20 years later, the effects of the Station nightclub fire still linger - The Boston Globe", "The Great White Nightclub Fire: Ten Years Later", "In West Warwick firefighters' hearts, the disaster isn't over", "How a West Warwick restaurant became a triage center for burn victims", "20th anniversary of New England nightclub fire that killed 100", "State supreme court to review penalty for employee deaths in R.I. fire - UPI.com", "Workers comp. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. 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. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. For more information on your department or district joining the SAVE program click here or contact the California Fire Foundation at save@cpf.org or (916) 641-1707. Michael Derderian: That is correct. I have to find him. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. Scott James: He writes up this long, almost a manifesto about all the things that he thinks are wrong in that foam company that led to this tragedy. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. ", Scott James: They had their moments. What kind of club was this? Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. [63] Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch objected strenuously to the plea bargain, saying that both brothers should have received jail time and that Michael Derderian should have received more time than Biechele. But Saturday night, as . Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. It was liquid fire. 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 had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. He said if there's. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. I figured I was on my own at that point.. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. 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. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. I don't even like to talk about it. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. [82] The stop was removed from the game by developer Niantic later that month. [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. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. That's when I turned back. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of 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". 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. [76] The Rhode Island state fire code was changed after the fire to require every nightclub in the state with a capacity of over 150 people to have a sprinkler system installed.[3]. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. 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. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM He had failed to get a license for the pyrotechnics from the State of Rhode Island and permits from the local fire department. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Saturday marks the 18-year anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire that left lasting scars on numerous families and the state of Rhode Island. [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. 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 . That specific. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. S01:E03 - Station Nightclub Fire. The Foam.". 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. You know people didn't react instantly. Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . And I said my hands won't work. [9], The fire was reported to the West Warwick Fire Department by cellular phone calls to 911 within sixty seconds of ignition[24]. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. "[91], Two years to the day after the fire, band members Russell and Kendall, along with Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live with three survivors of the fire and the father of Longley, to discuss how their lives had changed since the incident. 9. 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. "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " 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. 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. Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. [2] The three were each charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in violation of a misdemeanor. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. Dan McKee stopped by the memorial on the 20th anniversary of the fire Monday. But never once do they say, "we screwed up." He was the. [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. This is solid gasoline. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. And outside I went. [1] The building that would become The Station was built in 1946 and was originally used as a gin mill. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. They should have blamed more. [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. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. 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. A staggering 100 lives were lost. That happened in 2002. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. Jeff Derderian: Why is it OK that the fire marshal is allowed to miss something or make a mistake and what he did was just an oops, but what we did was criminal? Scott James: It should not have happened. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. One guy did crawl out. Jody King: He trusted the club. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. 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. It was already in contract. 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. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. Fifteen years since that terrible night. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. So that was huge.. As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. How did you meet him? During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. 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. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!" 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. He don't know. Inspection records showed that just three months before the fire, the Derderians had been cited by the local fire marshal for having a secondary, interior door by the stage that opened inward, which violated regulations. [49] The tour started five months after the fire, and each concert began with a prayer for survivors and families. [60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. Do you understand that anger? JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. Both the brothers had other jobs. [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 fire was the fourth-deadliest at a nightclub in U.S. history, and the second-deadliest in New England, behind the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire, which resulted in 492 deaths. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. [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. [31], Four employees of the Station were killed in the fire. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. DANIEL BIECHELE [at sentencing hearing in tears]: I don't know that I will ever forgive myself for what happened that night. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. Gina Russo, who was in The Station on Feb. 20, 2003, barely made it out. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In my head, I didnt even belong with them because I walked out without a scratch.. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. The Station was a nightclub that was located on the corner of Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 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. There was no one coming out the back door anymore. And then on one side, I noticed it come over the top, and that's when I said, "I have to leave." He doesn't know. [8], Great White had two opening acts for the February 20 concert: Trip, a group from Vancouver, Washington, and Fathead, a local Rhode Island band. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. For the Derderians, the "full story" begins with the issue of permission. Biechele was released from prison in 2008 after some families of the victims expressed their support for his parole. Jeff Derderian: I don't know. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. They promoted the event. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos 98 PHOTOS More Stories Has fire prevention in RI improved since The Station fire? [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. Its irrelevant.. One hundred people died, and hundreds more suffered. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 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]. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. 2003 deadly fire at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA, Great White, Jack Russell, and Mark Kendall, National Institute of Standards and Technology, "The Station nightclub fire 10 years later: Healing continues as West Warwick, Rhode Island, takes next step in recovery", "The Station Fire: Timeline of a tragedy", "Station tragedy leads to tougher fire code", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 1", "Beyond grief: Trying to make sense out of the Station tragedy", "Tragedy Catches Up to a Metal Band Past Its Prime", "Great White Fireworks Set Off a Controversy", "The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for disaster that killed 100? 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. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. In February 2008, Providence television station. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." It couldnt continue another 10, 15 years, it couldnt. my dad was in the room. 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.. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads.