[80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. 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. That specific. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. 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. And I took a good look and I said, "Oh, st, I'm burned.". [11] Dominic Santana, the owner of The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, told reporters that Great White had used pyrotechnics during their February 14, 2003 performance at the venue without his permission, and their contract and rider did not mention pyrotechnics displays. As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. View All 100 Memorials for the The Station Nightclub Fire Site. [9], The foam was sold to the Derderians by American Foam. Out of it. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. They are speaking out about the fire for the first time. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. [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. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. [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. Tracy King died saving many others the night of the fire. Michael Derderian: That is correct. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . [48], Following the tragedy, Governor Donald Carcieri declared a moratorium on pyrotechnic displays at venues that hold fewer than 300 people. So, to the people who think we don't own it I'm telling you, we DO own it ok? During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. "48 Hours" has confirmed the fax wasnotpresented to the grand jury. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. Michael Derderian: Zero. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. 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. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. So, before I knew it, this finger was contractured down in this position and the rest of them were all bent backwards because the skin had tightened up.". 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? Jim Axelrod: The fire spread so quickly because rather than fire-retardant sound foam, on the wall of the club was highly flammable packing foam. I have to find him. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. One of the angles Lynch investigated was the Derderian brothers. She took a photograph of the stone of a man who died and sent it to his daughter in California. Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. [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. and I just kind of went down on my face. 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. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. [61], In January 2008, the Parole Board decided to grant Michael Derderian an early release; he was scheduled to be released from prison in September 2009, but was granted his release in June 2009 for good behavior.[64]. ", Scott James: They had their moments. 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. [2], In the months prior to the fire, the building had been inspected twice by West Warwick fire marshal Denis Larocque. [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. Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, which killed 100 people. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam and say the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. "We wanted the full story to come out, not just some of it, and for people who want to come to their own conclusion on what happened that night," says Jeff Derderian. It didn't have a lock on it. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. It was really everything to me at that time. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. 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. [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. She saw friends who had lost people they loved, others who had been burned and scarred by the fire, and felt embarrassed that she got out physically unharmed. When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. [24] The first West Warwick fire engine arrived at the scene at 11:13 p.m., followed by three other trucks shortly thereafter. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. Scott James: You have four exits. [21] Thick smoke began to fill the station one minute after the ignition and the crowd began to escape the building. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. 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. The fire was now out of control; it had spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling intended to dampen sound. You should be proud." Patrick Lynch: Again, any reference in this conversation about what the brothers say, I I take a step back and think I don't really trust it. There's an exit near the stage. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [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. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. [7][8] They were best known for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . And I turned around, I said, "Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!" They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldnt have. 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. Phil Barr: I asked my pulmonologist, you know, "when can I get back in the pool?" People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. And yet, at the point in time, I don't think I knew his name. The State of Rhode Island and the town of West Warwick agreed to pay $10 million as settlement. Phil Barr: A lot of people moved back towards the main entrance it became really clear that we were not going to be able [to] get out the front door. The flanking gerbs became the principal cause of the fire. 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]. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. 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. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. 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. Phil Barr: I loved it. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. And, according to the brothers, it was one of the first exits used when the fire started. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. That was his gift. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. Both the brothers had other jobs. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, did not. Since he co-owned The Station nightclub with his brother Michael Derderian, Jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. sentenced Biechele to fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probation, for his role in the fire. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. That happened in 2002. 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. Tracy died never giving up. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. 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. 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.. [15][16] All the members of Trip escaped the Station without injury, but two members of Fathead, cousins Keith and Steven Mancini, died in the fire. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. And I hear [moves her arms to the side with a whoosh] and out Deb went. 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. That's how thick the smoke was. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. Todd King, a founder of The Station Family Fund, said today the fund . An off-duty police officer standing outside had heard her kicking at the window. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. On Feb. 20, 2003, 100 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured in a fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick. [49][50], Lynch told 48 Hours that his investigation found that the fire spread quickly due to the foam the Derderians had installed in the Station's walls and ceilings as a response to noise complaints. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. There was no one coming out the back door anymore. He threw my wife, my cousin, my uncle, my sister out a window." [56], The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. We're running out of time." Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. Purchase and sale had been signed. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Chris Young Ritzen. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. [99] 41 and a film based on O'Neill's play They Walk Among Us were aired by Rhode Island PBS in February 2013 in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the fire. 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. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. 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. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. 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. these contracts are pretty specific. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. I am proud. The answer is no. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? He turned back to see the crowd bottle-necked at the stage. There is one consistent thing I have learned after 18 years in the There had to be that period for me. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, 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. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. Jody King: I see the horror. There isn't a guilt in terms of like, that we knowingly did this or or caused it but there's a guilt that we it happened on our watch, happened on our watch. Saran was one of the more than 200 who were seriously hurt in the fire. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. 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]. [33] One survivor claimed that a bouncer blocked a side door as attendees attempted to escape the building, stating the door was only to be used by the band. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. Sparks from the gerbs ignited the insulation foam, and flames were visible on the wall above the stage within nine seconds of their ignition. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. 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. [tears up, shaking his head]. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. Those at the nightclub had to act soon, as smoke was visible in the exit doorways in just over one minute. Stay up to date with everything Boston. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. I figured I was on my own at that point.. It was completely preventable. The club was sold. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. However, on September 21, 2006, Judge Darigan announced that the brothers had changed their pleas from "not guilty" to "no contest," thereby avoiding a trial. As a result of this and other similar incidents, fire chiefs, fire marshals and inspectors require trained crowd managers to comply with the International Fire Code, NFPA-101 Life Safety Code, NFPA-1 Fire Code and many local ordinances that address safety in public-assembly occupancies. And people stood and watched it, and some people backed off. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. That's when I turned back. it became very, very hard to breathe. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. "[5], Many of the survivors of the fire developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the event. And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. 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. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? It looked like it was raining black fire. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. Its irrelevant.. "[23] Within 40 seconds of the ignition, Great White had stopped playing and left the stage and the venue's fire alarm began to sound, but it was not connected to local fire department. 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. I refused to accept that as the outcome. 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. A decade ago, a survivor . The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. "It feels like somebody knew somebody who was in that fire or knew somebody who did, so the pain is very personal.". They were told to take it down. Jim Axelrod: Does this mean you feel a sense of responsibility? At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. And they played the arenas. "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. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. Vanner has no excuses. [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. [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. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. 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. "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " Michael Derderian: We do understand that anger and that's that's why we're here with you. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. And I was responsible for the day to day. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." [89] Kendall said in 2005, "We haven't played that song. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. Jody King: He was gregarious. She endured more than 50 operations. [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. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. The Feb. 20, 2003. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. But, you know, they have this following to this day . What kind of club was this? [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. "[58] The state parole board received approximately twenty letters, the majority of which expressed their sympathy and support for Biechele, some going as far as to describe him as a "scapegoat" with limited responsibility. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. In February 2008, Providence television station. [tears up] And the roof and just everything just fast, too fast. Jason Hahn. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . 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.