Lock Two minutes after the Desert Moon kickoff, the camera catches a haunting visual patrons stuck in a doorway, piled like wood, as black smoke billows over their heads. Coming out of the fire and not having any lasting physical injuries other than some lung damage you spend a lot of time figuring out, Why not me? By 2330, three handlines and master streams from Engines 2 and 4 were in service on side A. The pyrotechnics ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. https://www.nist.gov/disaster-failure-studies/station-nightclub-fire-ncst-investigation, The Station Nightclub Fire, Rhode Island, 2003. One hundred people lost their lives in the fire. Refining the codes and standards is only part of the solution. In a video taken that night, shouts of elation turn to horror movie screams just 90 seconds after the band launched its set. The professional association representing West Warwick firefighters was offered the opportunity to comment for this article, but declined to respond. A diagram released by the RISAG in 2004 with approximate locations of bodies showed 68 at or near side A. Thirty-one were inside the hallway and vestibule, nine at the dance-floor entrance to the vestibule, three in the main bar and 25 in the sunroom adjacent to the common vestibule and hallway wall and windows. Throughout history, major fires resulting in large losses of life have occurred that have not only stirred the public conscience, but also moved the fire protection community to continue to refine our codes. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. At 11:13:21, Engine 4 is filmed parked on side A. If you need help, contact our WebSupport via LiveChat. Designed to release a controlled fountain of sparks, the pyrotechnic canisters (or gerbs) instead accidentally ignited highly flammable acoustic polyurethane foam soundproofing material in the walls and ceilings surrounding the fore-platform of the stage. But he didn't know what. He fell to the tile on his side and the people all around him burned. The Station nightclub fire adds to the long list of tragic nightclub fires. The non-profit recently acquired the land, which is currently filled with 100 crosses made from burned Station wood. This author could not access the 2003 plan components nor verify its effectiveness. And just seconds after the band launched into their first song, Desert Moon, pyrotechnics lit by their tour manager caused a fire to ignite toward the back of the stage. On Wednesday I will share a few photos from the venue. Once again, out of a terrible tragedy, many questions were raised on the efficacy of fire-combating techniques within buildings and the need for fire sprinklers and better-marked egress. But before shipping out of West Warwick, she visited the site one last time. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. West Warwick firefighters not on the first-alarm assignment assisted with body recovery. As operations slowed, a sweep ordered of the fireground and surrounding areas found additional injured victims. In assembly occupancy fires, many of these contributing factors have been addressed in the codes for generations. In both cases, the suspect or suspects utilized a . Built in 1946, The Station had significantly aged and had undergone several remodels and renovations as it changed ownership. Three minutes later, Great White abandoned its set and lead singer Jack Russell warned the crowd, This aint good. The band dashed off stage just as the clubs fire alarm started blasting. Rhode Island Honors 'The Station' Nightclub Fire Victims 20 Years Later NECN. Consequently, there was essentially no debate on the impact of reduced sprinkler thresholds on restaurants during the code development process, and even fast-food restaurants with large seating areas or an indoor playscape require sprinklers because of this change. Victim says she's glad she was there: 'I'm a far better person than I was'. Van Halen, Aerosmith, the Who Tribute Bands Play Rhode Island Benefit, It was complete mayhem, Kendall says. Eagan moved to Nevada six weeks ago. We have an absolute bond, he says. The horrific fire claimed the lives of 100 people while another 230 were injured. 3 min read. Derderian was arraigned on 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick on Feb. 20, 2003, that killed 100 people. Regulations regarding pyrotechnic displays were also tightened and strictly enforced. Patrons self-evacuated and were assisted out by police and surviving patrons prior to Engine 4's arrival. Fire department rescues assisted in transporting bodies. Hes been struggling with addiction ever since Ive known him, Kendall says. I was happy to see they kept going, says the engineer, clutching his records. Your account has been marked for password reset. The fire spread quickly along the ceiling area over the dance floor. The second part, of the solution is getting the codes adopted. February 20, 2003. Some were lying on the ground, inside vehicles, in pickup truck beds and seeking relief from burns in snow banks. Most of those bodies were recovered near the stage and dance floor. You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content. And its certainly worth whatever we have to do to keep going forward., 10 Songs You Cant Believe Are 10 Years Old. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up to receive the latest daily But the banner outside the Station listed Great White as the nights headliner. Eagan admits she isnt a very spiritual person, but after she walked out of the Station catastrophe, that Bible verse became a mantra. Rescue 1 cleared its run and responded at 2314. It was just an emotional rollercoaster.. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. An off-duty career firefighter from a neighboring city assisted in stretching hose. The pyrotechnics ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. Todays fire safety codes and standards reflect painful lessons learned, one being that fire safety inspections and code enforcement must be prioritized. As Ive said before (and will likely say many more times)to honor the lives lost in these tragedies, we must learn from them. Three weeks later, the band had toured through the Midwest while Eagan was back in Nevada, where the former mortgage company account executive is now studying to become a burn nurse. 17 years after Rhode Island's deadly nightclub fire. Jeff Dederian, right, co-owner of The Station nightclub, cries with his head in his hands as he reads a statement to the media and his wife Linda Derderian, left, looks on. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The emotional and psychological impact and resulting post-traumatic stress of responding to this incident cannot be measured. On her right forearm is a tattoo that reads, To whom that much has been given, much will be required.. When we had this guy filling in while Jack was recovering, we realized, man, thats not normal. INTERCITY traffic was continuous and frequently overlapping. (video), Walk the layout of the building when you first arrive, Look for two ways out of each room and identify marked fire exits, Look for fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems. Engine 3 was blocked by traffic and Engine 2 laid dual 300-foot supply lines from a hydrant on Cowesett Road, pulling in close to Engine 4. People stampeded into the area through entrances from the bar and club. Seconds later, the fire department arrived and began to flow water in the area of the front door. 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. The fire, which broke out on February 20. Those compiling reports during civil and criminal litigation had limited access to evidence and interviews. Commercial companies and independent ambulance corps provided another 15 to 20 ambulances. Neighboring FAs monitoring fireground communications notified their off-duty command and EMS supervisory staffs. As the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to billow, people began to realize the nightclub was on fire. Within two minutes of Chief 1's arrival, Engine 1 and Ladder 1 reported the front entryway clogged with about 20 victims. Kulas Road is about 33 ft east of the side bar exit. Jeffrey Derderian received a 10-year suspended sentence, three years probation, and 500 hours of community service.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. Some communications between RCCs and agencies were made by landline. For those of you who may not be familiar with this tragic event, I am sharing some resources that I previously posted here on iDigHardware, along with some additional information. Command requested a commercial bus to transport ambulatory injured at 2326. Today is the 20th anniversary of one of the worst nightclub fires in US history at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. While he has managed to stay sober, he says, Russell has not. The fire raced across the ceiling and over the dance floor toward the front doors. Share. A survivor claimed that she and her fiancee had tried to escape through one exit, but were stopped by a bouncer stating that that door was "for the band only.". A 2005 seminar estimated 20 to 30 critical third-degree burn victims were saved by firefighters. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. Although master streams are not normally used in occupied structures, firefighters credited their use on side A with saving lives where numerous occupants were trapped and simultaneous rescue-recovery operations were ongoing. Im going to get the new album.. All rights reserved. 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. 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. It is not recorded which companies filled this assignment. WFD Engine 5, Engine 9, Rescue 4 and Battalion 1 arrived almost simultaneously at 2319. 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. They changed their pleas from "not guilty" to "no contest," thereby avoiding a trial.Michael Derderian received a 15-year prison sentence, with four to serve and 11 years suspended, plus three years probation. Warwick supplied the rapid intervention team. >> PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIRE EXITS, PAY ATTENTION TO SPRINKLERS. 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. The previous grandfather clause (ceiling fire sprinklers were not required for buildings built before 1976) was lifted and all public facilities over a certain capacity were forced to install automatic sprinkler systems. Keep up-to-date on crucial industry news, innovative training and expert technical advice with a free subscription to the award-winning Building Safety Journal. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. Legal proceedings are ongoing. to confirm your email address. Fire officials quickly concluded that a sprinkler system would have most likely spared many lives the wooden Station nightclub was grandfathered into an exception for laws requiring ceiling fire sprinklers. Firefighters had to remove deceased victims to access survivors wedged in doors and hallways. We want to hear it. If the fire wasnt enough to overcome, Great White is now forging ahead with a new singer, with the previous one now fronting an offshoot, Great White featuring Jack Russell. 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 scene firefighters faced is addressed. Eighty-six causes of death were from the "inhalation of products of combustion and a super-heated oxygen-deficient atmosphere" (inhalation). There were thousands of people in this giant building with multiple different rooms and no rhyme or reason to the egress paths. Survivors' injuries mirrored those of the deceased. There is also a documentary on YouTube with survivors relating their experience. Via side-A windows, 25 exited the sunroom and 54 exited the barroom. News Sport Region Music Person Profession Crypto. there is one story of Mike Vargas who did indeed survive the burning pile up in the front doorway. The emotional impact on the responding firefighters continues. Several handlines were advanced to side B and on burning gasoline under multiple vehicles ignited at the A/B corner. The objectives of the investigation were: The final report, "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 1 and Volume 2 ," includes details of the investigation as well as NIST's recommendations. HIS FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING TO HIM. 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. A Cowesett Inn restaurant (CIR) employee informed him a victim was already inside the restaurant. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Both departments' apparatus remained on their respective frequencies with both chiefs operating jointly at the command post. Recently one of them, Linda Fisher, joined the band onstage during the Monsters of Rock Cruise. The exit near the bar had been locked with chains in order to prevent people from sneaking into the club without paying. Falling patrons jammed the main exit, trapping the people behind them inside. A locked padlock Chief 1 assigned two safety officers, one each from Warwick and West Warwick. To complete your registration, please verify your email address. >> ITS ALL I CAN DO NOW, JUST COME TO THE PLACE WHERE HE LAST WAS. Cranston Engine 4 rerouted to the scene, laying a four-inch supply line for the tower's elevated master stream. Subject matter including inspections, codes, civil and criminal litigation, opinions and recommendations of published reports, violations, blame, culpability and liability are not covered. Raymond Mattera, father of Tammy Mattera-Housa, who died in The Station nightclub fire, holding a newspaper photo of the fire, pleads with the fire commission to change the fire laws Thursday, May 22, 2003. creating a bottleneck at the front door. It is in equal parts fascinating, horrifying, heart-wrenching and inspiring. On December 30, 2004, a fire caused by pyrotechnics (fired by a patron of the club) resulted in 194 deaths and over 700 injuries in an overcrowded club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is shown in this Dec. 9, 2003,photo in a West Warwick, R.I. booking mug. The DHS report stated the medical examiner's office was overtaxed. 2023 Getty Images. Defendant Dan Biechele's mother, Patricia Biechele, left, and wife, Mandy Gura Biechele, right, react in court, May 10, 2006 in Providence, R.I. after the former tour manager for Great White pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. A hug its insane how much that does., Eagan says Kendall is in touch with a core group of about 15 survivors. That was my therapy.. 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