[48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. I figured I was on my own at that point.. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. 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's like a surge of bodies. and I just kind of went down on my face. Multiple injured after shooting at San Jose nightclub | KRON4 Isn't that an important fact in determining who's at fault? It was liquid fire. Shed read Russos book, about how the fire left her a bald chick, and it convinced her to go back out into the world. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. NFPA on LinkedIn: Station Nightclub Fire Survivor Returns to the Scene Absolutely not. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. They all later accepted plea deals. [9][10][8] At the time of their performance at the Station, Great White only had two of its original members in its lineup: Lead singer Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry, Del Sesto said. 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. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. But Jeff Derderian, who was helping out at the bar, says he and an employee tried to get to the stage with a fire extinguisher. But she refuses to live in the past. [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. And outside I went. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. The Station Nightclub Fire - University of Cincinnati pdf To summarize the reports, specifically about how people exited, the vast majority of people attempted to exit the way they came in. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. Tweet. 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 fell down the stairs, out that door. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. 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. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? This is a massive part of my life. 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. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. That happened in 2002. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. 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 manslaughter. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. I did not lead them out, he said dismissively. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. Station fire, 15 years later: Survivors tell their stories Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? 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.. [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. It justit was so fast. Linda Saran: The bar got quiet because people were dying literally and all you could hear was the roar of the fire and liquor bottles exploding. Scott James: It smelled like spilled beer and stale cigarettes and everything was just a little bit frayed at the edge. That day let her put a period on the last sentence of Chapter Two, she said. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. And they're quick to point out the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. Survivor of The Station nightclub fire reflects on 20th anniversary 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. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. Even if he died trying. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Michael Derderian: He finds the deficiencies, you have to correct the deficiencies and then signs off so that you so you can get your liquor license that happened in 2000. That was his gift. The brothers have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. The Guest List: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert will premiere on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. [95] When Russell launched his version of the band in 2012, Kendall's group responded that Russell had no right to use the name. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue. 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. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. And that song reminds us of that night. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. 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. [40][37] Derderian resigned from WPRI on June 30. Remembering the 100 victims of the Station Nightclub fire 18 years The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos - The Providence Journal [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. 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. It seems like yesterday We were going to get married in June and she passed away in February, Cain told CBS. (WATCH) The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary The Station nightclub in West Warwick burned down on Feb. 20, 2003, during a concert by rock band Great White, leaving 100 people dead and more than 200 injured. 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. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. [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. ", "Fire in a nightclub: the band; group persevered by making circuit of smaller clubs", "How tragedy inspired one member of Great White", "Rhode Island Remembers Victims Of Deadly GREAT WHITE Concert Fire", "Club, band dispute permission to use fireworks - Feb. 22, 2003", "Memories sear survivor of fire that killed 100 in 2003", "Parents mourn loss of only child in nightclub fire, but cherish time they had after first near-death experience", "Radio station to remain in fire lawsuits", "Clear Channel agrees to pay $22 million to nightclub fire victims", "Portraits of people who died in the R.I. nightclub fire", "Timeline: What happened the night of the Station nightclub fire?