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[60], Following Biechele's trial, The Station's owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were scheduled to receive separate trials. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) Gina Russo, who survived The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick in 2003, spoke with NBC 10's Mario Hilario on the morning of the 20th anniversary of the. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. He had failed to get a license for the pyrotechnics from the State of Rhode Island and permits from the local fire department. "[5], Many of the survivors of the fire developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the event. 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. 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. He tells her he wishes that hed tried to extinguish the fire. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. Jody King: Nine different families have come up to me and said "thank you for having a great brother. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. And I stood up. Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. So that was huge.. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads. What kind of club was this? [22] Biechele used four gerbs that were set to spray sparks 15 feet (4.6m) for fifteen seconds. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. 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. People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. But Saturday night, as . "I literally baked alive," says Linda Barr. " It looked like it was raining black fire. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. But she refuses to live in the past. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. The charge is pending. The biggest question was, why had the fire spread so quickly? There's an exit near the stage. [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. 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. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. I couldn't get up. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. 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? Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. [tears up, shaking his head]. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. And 18 years after the fire, the brothers say they want to set the record straight and reveal new information. 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.". You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. Vanner doesnt know when the night will be over. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. As were 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? she said. CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. I said to myself, we gotta go. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. . And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. Well, I guess once we all started to turn toward the door, and we got bottle-necked into the front door, people just kept pushing, and eventually everyone popped out of the door, including myself. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. One guy did crawl out. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the Derderians said they wanted to set the record straight and reveal new information about that foam and accountability. 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. She paused, her eyes tearing. Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. It was that fast. Scott James: You have four exits. At least 64 others were also sued, including the state of Rhode Island citedforthe fire inspector's failure to report the flammable foam during multiple inspections. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Tracy died never giving up. I ran across the room and I ran face-first into the wall. I've been after this bike for over 4 years and I finally got the call! Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. [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. [77], A benefit memorial concert was held in February 2008 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and featured performances by Tesla, Twisted Sister, Winger, Gretchen Wilson, and John Rich. [28], Of the 462 people in the building for the concert, 100 were killed, 230 were injured, and 132 escaped uninjured. I miss Tina a lot. 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]. [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. : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. The Foam.". Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM Jeff Derderian: I remember we were trying to get people away from the building. It did not. Phil Barr: Being a survivor of The Station nightclub fire is a piece of who I am. They were told to take it down. Jim Axelrod: Did you have enough time to form those complete thoughts? Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. It had to end, for me and it ended in the most beautiful way.. And he's like he don't know. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. [2], The first criminal trial was against Great White's tour manager, Daniel Michael Biechele, 26, from Orlando, Florida. During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. The TIAs required automatic fire sprinklers in all existing nightclubs and similar locations that accommodate more than 100 occupants, and all new locations in the same categories. One near the bar. 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. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. Jody King: He went on David Letterman twice to do Stupid Human Tricks. They want to talk to you." 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. [9] Michael Derderian told 48 Hours that it was "Undisputable" that the building's use of flammable packing foam instead of flame retardant sound foam was the cause of the fire's spread, but the brothers claimed that they had ordered sound foam and had received the packing foam instead. I don't even like to talk about it. 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. Stephen Sweet, a Quincy firefighter who lost his cousin Shawn Sweet in the fire, came to play the bagpipes at a memorial ceremony Monday, WCVB reported. 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. [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. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. And that's when the crowd realizes this is a real danger and we have to get out of here. 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. [39] WPRI-TV and Derderian were criticized for the conflict of interest in having a reporter do a report concerning his own property. JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: Rock and Roll is supposed to be fun, not deadly you know. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. 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. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. Flames can be seen on the back wall. In February 2008, Providence television station. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. [2], Prior to the fire, the Station often hosted concerts by 1980s hard rock groups and tribute bands. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. local Four nonstop. [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. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." it was also on fire. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . Michael Derderian: No. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? I figured I was on my own at that point.. 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 . Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation. But he didn't know what. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. "[63] He added that the difference in the brothers' sentences reflected their respective involvement with the purchase and installation of the flammable foam. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. 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. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. More than 460 fans had crowded into the wooden, single-story, 4,480 -square-foot nightclub known as The Station in West Warwick, R.I., to enjoy a Thursday night show on Feb. 20, 2003. The shooting was first reported at 12:04 a.m. in the 300 block of S. 1st . As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. [104] The legislation would create a tax incentive for property owners to install fire sprinkler systems. I couldn't play an instrument. Dan Biechele, center, at his sentencing. [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. When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. The fire began as rock band Great White played to the crowd. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. We took shortcuts. [62], In a letter to the victims' families, Judge Darigan wrote that he accepted the deal because he wanted to avoid "Public exposition of the tragic, explicit and horrific events experienced by the victims of this fire, both living and dead. We're running out of time." But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. Lying on the floor not far from the horseshoe bar, Barr lost consciousness. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. [29] The initial death toll was 96 people; Four more individuals died in the hospital in the weeks following, bringing the toll to 100. And I was responsible for the day to day. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. He was worried about his brother Tracy who worked there as a bouncer. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. I remember getting pushed from behind. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK . But instead, I chose to run like a common coward.. [104] It was last introduced in the House in 2015 by then-U.S. Reps. James Langevin of Rhode Island and Tom Reed of New York.[104]. And if we could change it, we would. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". 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? Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. Phil Barr: Yep. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line.