A fast-moving fire engulfed the club in 5 minutes. After a great deal of scrutiny, sweeping changes came to fire and building codes governing public assembly occupancies. The, third, and perhaps most important part, is, The Station nightclub fire adds to the long list of, tragic nightclub fires. On Feb. 20, 2003, the nation's fourth-deadliest nightclub fire occurred in the Town of West Warwick, RI, killing 100 people and injuring nearly 300. A Warwick police officer, observing medical supplies dwindling, directed "gun trauma kits" retrieved from patrol cars. Arriving at 2324, Chief 1 ordered another call-back of off-duty members. Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is shown in this Dec. 9, 2003,photo in a West Warwick, R.I. booking mug. Some communications between RCCs and agencies were made by landline. The cramped foyer was reportedly designed to prevent people from entering the club without a ticket, but it proved disastrous when the large, panicked crowd clogged it in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze. Smiling wildly, the fired would-be apprentice is more impressed with Great White than he was with Donald Trump. 560K views 13 years ago buildingEXODUS V4.0 simulation of the Rhode Island nightclub fire. Starting with the International Conference of Building Officials as the managing editor of its, Explore all the benefits that ICC Membership has to offer, Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency, Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire, Volume 1, Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire: Appendices. Three listed thermal burns and inhalation as the primary cause, three listed inhalation and compression injuries and two listed compression injuries only. These tragic fires and the accompanying loss of life often result from the same contributing factors which include highly combustible interior finish, combustible contents including decorative features, lack of properly designed and adequate egress systems, and overcrowding of occupants. The emotional impact on the responding. The exit near the bar had been locked with chains, in order to prevent people from sneaking into the club without paying. We have an absolute bond, he says. The stampede to get out led to a crush in the narrow hallway leading to the front exit, quickly blocking the exit completely. The band began a benefit tour for victims and survivors that summer, and they would continue to perform benefits for the next two years. A photo of Great White guitarist Ty Longley rests next to flowers at a tribute to Longley, Sunday, March 2, 2003, at the Yankee Lake Ballroom in Brookfield, Ohio. Due to the inaccessibility of records, no attempt will be made to list each responding apparatus. . The flames were at first thought to be part of the act. The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick started when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White set fire to flammable foam installed as soundproofing. All Rhode Island fire departments, chiefs and union leaders were contacted after the incident advising of the availability of support in the form of defusing and debriefing sessions. Like Great White, no matter how far from West Warwick she gets, the nightmare will always follow her. Even with the strides made toward improving safety in assembly occupancies, we are reminded that this battle is far from won. Eagan admits she isnt a very spiritual person, but after she walked out of the Station catastrophe, that Bible verse became a mantra. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. We were so used to drama, and we were so used to problems and hospitals and wheelchairs in airports just all this extra stuff that almost became, like, normal, Kendall says. The congregating injured created another triage area by default. Smoke was visible in the exit doorways in a little more than one minute, and flames were observed breaking through a portion of the roof in less than five minutes. It was one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the nation's history, and an event that has had lasting consequences for hundreds of families. On Cowesett Road, WFD Tower Ladder 1 was approached by many injured and the officer led them to triage. 104. . In assembly occupancy fires, many of these contributing factors have been addressed in the codes for generations. Then a member of Night Ranger, bandmate Jack Blades tipped him off with a phone call. Technically, it wasn't Great White that took the stage on February 20th, 2003 at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI. In assembly occu, pancy fires, many of these contributing factors, have been addressed in the codes for genera, tions. In the panic to get out, many fell and were trampled. Claire Hoogasian attended court proceedings for Michael and Jeffrey Derderian. An official website of the United States government. creating a bottleneck at the front door. A disaster., Minutes before opening act Slaughter begins its set, Great White drummer Audie Desbrow, who joined the band in 1986, is signing Delgados records backstage. Built in 1946, the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. Survivors' injuries and autopsy results can reveal accurate scientific representations of conditions inside a burning structure. Two distinct triage areas emerged, one with Hopkins Hill Rescue 6 at the A/D corner and one at the CIR opposite the A/B corner. Eighty-six causes of death were from the "inhalation of products of combustion and a super-heated oxygen-deficient atmosphere" (inhalation). James Gahan is photographed, May 13, 2006, at his home in Falmouth, Mass., with a portrait of his son, Jimmy, who died in the Station Nightclub fire in 2003 in West Warwick, R.I. Gahan was one of those who made a statement in court this week when Dan Biechele was sentenced. THE FIRE 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. "The message is, 'Don't forget.' The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Today, it's been 16 years since The Station nightclub fire during a performance by Great White. Through his management, Russell declined to comment for this story. Shes still not sure why some of the 420 fans made it and some didnt. WFD Rescue 1, monitoring radio traffic and knowing it was shift change at Kent County Hospital, had FA notify Kent of the situation; hence, the hospital was double staffed. A survivor claimed that she and her fianc had tried to escape through one exit, but were stopped by a bouncer stating that that door was "for the band only.". I dont begrudge anyone that has anger or resentment, she says, noting that each survivor has dealt with the fire in different ways. (Note: Times are listed two ways to match video recordings and emergency dispatch records.). 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. Lardie was at his home in Las Vegas when the fire broke out. Monday marks the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, that killed 100 people. Judge: Three ME Teens 'Not Competent' to Stand Trial in Fatal Fire, International Association of Arson Investigators, The International Association of Arson Investigators Expands Online and App Program, MI Man Who Offered to Help Charged with Impersonating Firefighter, Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News (TNS), FDNY Commissioner Sounds Alarm on Lithium-ion Batteries, Part one was published in the November 2010 issue, International Association of Arson Investigators - IAAI. there is one story of Mike Vargas who did indeed survive the burning pile up in the front doorway. Last week I visited an art and music space housed in an old cooking oil factory in Havana, Cuba. When he did, Lardie saw footage of the blaze and heard that a guitarist from the band was missing. But we believe in our music. The cramped foyer was reportedly designed to prevent people from entering the club without a ticket, but it proved disastrous when the large, panicked crowd clogged it in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze. As months and years passed, lawsuits and criminal charges were filed against the Stations owners and Great Whites tour manager. Built in 1946, The Station had significantly aged and had undergone several remodels and renovations as it changed ownership. When we had this guy filling in while Jack was recovering, we realized, man, thats not normal. Although there were four possible exits, most attendees headed for the front door through which they had entered. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Today is the 20th anniversary of one of the worst nightclub fires in US history at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. NEVER FORGET THE VICTIMS OR THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT TRAGIC NIGHT. Great White Play North Dakota Gig With No Social Distancing, Masks station night club 411 Station Nightclub Fire Premium High Res Photos Browse 411 station nightclub fire stock photos and images available, or search for station fire or station night club to find more great stock photos and pictures. The Providence Journal identified by name 247 people who self-evacuated 90 via the side-A front doors, 46 via the side-B bar door, 12 via the side-B kitchen door and 20 through the side-D stage door. There is also a documentary on YouTube with survivors relating their experience. Description of The Station Nightclub and the Feb. 20, 2003, Fire. Documentary - Americas Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List, Where is Panic Hardware Required by Code? A 2005 seminar estimated 20 to 30 critical third-degree burn victims were saved by firefighters. Delgado, a former contestant onThe Apprentice, will return to see the show three hours later. Recently one of them, Linda Fisher, joined the band onstage during the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Commercial companies and independent ambulance corps provided another 15 to 20 ambulances. Jeffrey Derderian received a 10-year suspended sentence, three years probation, and 500 hours of community service. Rhode Island Honors 'The Station' Nightclub Fire Victims 20 Years Later NECN. Doomed fans stuck in the doorway of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI. At 0037, incoming rescues were canceled; all living victims had been transported. The NIST recommendations Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire, Volume 1 and Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire: Appendices included restricting the use of flammable foam plastic materials, prohibiting pyrotechnic displays in enclosed nightclubs without sprinkler systems, strengthening the enforcement power of local fire marshals, and strengthening sprinkler requirements. Lock The methods in our existing codes are based on sound protection principles that have stood the test of time. After communicating online with other survivors, she co-founded the Station Family Fund three months after the fire to help victims and survivors. An MCI trailer did respond from the state airport. This book is actually an autobiography of one of the victims of Rhode Island's Station Nightclub fire. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. WILLIAM F. ADAMS is a past chief of the East Rochester, NY, Fire Department and a former fire apparatus sales representative. The design of the front entrance corridor contributed to the loss of life, forcing concert-goers to push through an intermediate door that opened into a small foyer before finally reaching the main doors that led outside. 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. The band tried to go on with Russell several times, but his addictions, they say, became uncontrollable. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in American history. The third, and perhaps most important part, is enforcing these codes. Horrific tragedies such as the Station Nightclub Fire prove what can go terribly wrong when exits are not abundant and easily accessible, when exit doors swing inward, or when automatic fire sprinklers arent present. There were spaces that I would not enter, knowing what I know about nightclub tragedies. Your account has been marked for password reset. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. 159 125 125 comments Best Add a Comment TheRealMSteve 8 yr. ago At 11:13:21, Engine 4 is filmed parked on side A. The fire, which broke out on February 20. Victim says she's glad she was there: 'I'm a far better person than I was'. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. Police investigators survey the site of The Station nightclub fire. She also co-founded the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, which aims to raise funds for a memorial park at the fire site. Officials did not immediately identify the victims . The initial attack was in direct support of rescue efforts. The figure concurs with the 2003 fire chief's estimate of 100 people rescued, mostly through side A. Hopkins Hill Rescue 6, positioning at the A/D corner on Cowesett Road, was surrounded by burn victims seeking assistance. Pastor Dave LaChance, right, consoles Jack Russell, lead singer of Great White near the scene of a deadly fire at The Station nightclub. But when Russells solo project failed to attract crowds, his management invited Kendall to play guitar, and Russell adopted the name Jack Russells Great White. 230 people were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured. Rescue 1 cleared its run and responded at 2314. Theyll never have another hit like Once Bitten, Twice Shy, but casino gigs like this are clearly a step up from the Station. We have sent an email to the address you provided. "Nightclub owners Jeffrey and Micahel Derderian both faced 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case. Engine 3 started triage at the CIR. Keep me up to date! Egress from the nightclub, which was not equipped with sprinklers, was hampered by crowding at the main entrance to the building. That was my healing, she says. We will email you a link to reset your password. The fire raced across the ceiling and over the dance floor toward the front doors. Chief 1 required all firefighters debriefed by a CISM team member prior to being released from duty. Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of those who lost their lives in the fire. Claire Hoogasian displays outside Kent County Superior Court in Warwick, R.I., Sept. 29, 2006, a T-shirt and necklace honoring her son Michael and daughter-in-law Sandy Hoogasian, both who died in the 2003 fire at The Station nightclub. CISM team members visited fire stations and conducted separate debriefing sessions for firefighters' family members. >> I COME DOWN EVERY YEAR AND JUST KIND OF PLAY THE PIPES. And its certainly worth whatever we have to do to keep going forward., 10 Songs You Cant Believe Are 10 Years Old. . THEY CHOSE NOT TO PLAN IT FOR FEBRUARY FOR TODAY PRESUMING THAT THERE WOULD BE WINTER WEATHER. Cranston Engine 4 and Ladder 2 responded as fill-in companies. It is in equal parts fascinating, horrifying, heart-wrenching and inspiring. A fast-moving fire engulfed the club in five and a half minutes, as 230 people were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. In a video taken that night, shouts of elation turn to horror movie screams just 90 seconds after the band launched its set. The scene firefighters faced is addressed. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The type and composition of the materials that were identified as being present inside the nightclub were to recommend any research and other appropriate actions needed to improve the structural safety of buildings, and improve evacuation and emergency response procedures, based upon the findings of the investigation. Warwick supplied the rapid intervention team. That was my therapy.. Off-duty dispatchers and the FA supervisor augmented the dispatcher on duty. The Station nightclub fire footage. This article is prepared from police reports, evidentiary material released by the Rhode Island State Attorney General (RISAG), communications with several mutual aid responders, Rhode Island Department of Health library reference material, published media articles (especially investigative reporting by the Providence Journal) and two major technical reports The Station Club Fire After-Action Report, October 2004, by the Office of Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the June 2005 Final Report of the National Construction Safety Team Investigation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce. Guitarist Mark Kendall is ripping through a solo on a new roadhouse rocker, (Ive Got) Something for You, when fog machines begin pumping vapors across the Chumash Casino stage, creating an illusion that the band is enveloped in smoke. ANDREA -- SERA: ANDREA SILVA LEAVING FLOWERS AT THE MONUMENT HONORING HER UNCLE, KILLED IN THE STATION NIGHTCLUB FIRE. I saw two psychotherapists and one psychiatrist. FA confirmed five out-of-town rescues had already been requested. By 2330, three handlines and master streams from Engines 2 and 4 were in service on side A. Close. A hug its insane how much that does., Eagan says Kendall is in touch with a core group of about 15 survivors. The north-facing front door (the main entrance) of the nightclub was about 140 ft from Cowesett Avenue. At approximately 2340, what remained of the barroom roof either burned off or collapsed. Do you want to stay up to date of all the news about Rhode Island? WFD Engine 5, Engine 9, Rescue 4 and Battalion 1 arrived almost simultaneously at 2319. When Russell began canceling dates due to health problems and addictions, Kendall says, the band called on temporary replacements. 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