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. The fire spread quickly along the ceiling area over the dance floor. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Firefighters had to remove deceased victims to access survivors wedged in doors and hallways. There is also a documentary on YouTube with survivors relating their experience. 20th anniversary of Station nightclub fire: Remembering 100 lives lost. Do you want to stay up to date of all the news about Rhode Island? The Station nightclub fire, where 100 people died and hundreds more were hurt, will never be forgotten by those who were there or lost loved ones that February night. An exit near the stage was quickly eliminated as the fire spread around the door, preventing escape. Todays fire safety codes and standards reflect painful lessons learned, one being that fire safety inspections and code enforcement must be prioritized. After exiting the building, Kendall called his wife and told her the gig would be delayed until the fire was extinguished. Replies to my comments There were thousands of people in this giant building with multiple different rooms and no rhyme or reason to the egress paths. People stampeded into the area through entrances from the bar and club. A locked padlock Official websites use .gov Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of those who lost their lives in the fire at The Station nightclub Feb. 20, 2003. Key Findings. You can enable JavaScript via your browser's preference settings. When WFD Battalion 1 reported to the command post, the INTERCITY a common radio frequency used to communicate between regional control centers (RCCs), agencies and apparatus was becoming overloaded. Tweet. But despite the horrors that fire produced, shes glad she was at the Station that night. The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick in 2003 was the fourth-worst such fire in the nation's history. Regulations regarding pyrotechnic displays were also tightened and strictly enforced. He has 40 years' experience in the volunteer fire service. Kendall, who fought addictions before the fire, could have easily fallen off the wagon afterward. NFPA also published a case study on nightclub fires, and the report includes information about the impact of this fire and other nightclub tragedies on the model codes: On February 20, 2003, a fire in a small club in Rhode Island once again reminded us that history can and will repeat itself. Im going to get the new album.. Smoke and flames poured from the structure with occupants fleeing from doors and windows; most burned some were on fire. The third, and perhaps most important part, is enforcing these codes. Are we going to be able to rise above this? The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time The pyrotechnics ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. A fire occurred on the night of Feb. 20, 2003, in The Station nightclub at 211 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island. Hundreds of people filled the parking lot and streets; half were injured, many seriously. The Great White Nightclub Fire: Ten Years Later, Robert Cray on His New Album and Appearing in Animal House, Foo Fighters Rehearsing for New Album, Says Guitarist, The Most Awesomely Eighties 1980s Music Videos, Jason Derulo Pens First Book 'Sing Your Name Out Loud', Wizkid More Love, Less Ego Tour Postponed to Fall 2023, A Year After Brain Injury, Amy Grant Sets First Solo Musical Return in a Decade, Blink-182 Postpone First-Ever Latin America Tour Dates Following Travis Barker Finger Injury, Raye Relives Her Sexual Assault in Harrowing 'Ice Cream Man' Video, How to Watch 'The Mandalorian' Online: Stream Season 3 Now, Alex MurdaughCalled 'Family Annihilator' by Prosecution in Murder Trial. The, third, and perhaps most important part, is, The Station nightclub fire adds to the long list of, tragic nightclub fires. (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. Eventually, he says, Station survivors helped him the most. Even though the consequences of The Station fire were largely attributed to multiple code violations that were present on the night of the fire, particularly improper interior finish materials and the use of indoor pyrotechnics without proper precautions, the International Codes responded by changing the threshold for mandatory sprinklers in Group A-2 occupancies from 300 occupants to 100 occupants. He fell to the tile on his side and the people all around him burned. Eventually, they kept one former XYZ front man Terry Ilous. Just moments after 11:00 p.m., Great White came onto the stage with a high-energy opening number accompanied by pyrotechnics to impress the crowd. 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. The scene firefighters faced is addressed. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in American history. 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 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Two people died in an early morning fire Friday that heavily damaged a home in Cranston's Garden City neighborhood. Claire Hoogasian attended court proceedings for Michael and Jeffrey Derderian. In assembly occu, pancy fires, many of these contributing factors, have been addressed in the codes for genera, tions. Then a member of Night Ranger, bandmate Jack Blades tipped him off with a phone call. You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content. 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. 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. 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. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. Smiling wildly, the fired would-be apprentice is more impressed with Great White than he was with Donald Trump. February 18 - Daegu subway fire in South Korea, killed 192 by arson. SERA: THE FOUNDATION RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE PARK IS PLANNING TO HOLD A SPECIAL CEREMONY MARKING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY, THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY. Today, it's been 16 years since The Station nightclub fire during a performance by Great White. 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. A Warwick Police report logged its first officer arriving at 2314 and being approached by severely burned survivors. These tragic fires and the accom, panying loss of life often result from the same, contributing factors which include highly com, bustible interior finish, combustible contents, including decorative features, lack of properly, designed and adequate egress systems, and, overcrowding of occupants. Even restaurants that did not serve alcoholic beverages were impacted, but to the surprise of many, the restaurant industry did not oppose the change. When Russell began canceling dates due to health problems and addictions, Kendall says, the band called on temporary replacements. Keep me up to date! A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. He asked that the court have mercy on Biechele. And its certainly worth whatever we have to do to keep going forward., 10 Songs You Cant Believe Are 10 Years Old. WFD Engine 1, ordered to the B side, laid a 300-foot, large-diameter supply line and directed its deck gun toward the front-door area from an elevated position on Kulas Avenue. Chief 1 required all firefighters debriefed by a CISM team member prior to being released from duty. Nine seconds later, flames were out all front windows. The music was primarily house and techno with international Dj's spinning nearly every evening. Nightclub owners Jeffrey and Micahel Derderian both faced 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case. As Ive said before (and will likely say many more times)to honor the lives lost in these tragedies, we must learn from them. Description of The Station Nightclub and the Feb. 20, 2003, Fire. Recently one of them, Linda Fisher, joined the band onstage during the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Egress from the nightclub, which was not equipped with sprinklers, was hampered by crowding at the main entrance to the building. In the crush, many could not get out. Van Halen, Aerosmith, the Who Tribute Bands Play Rhode Island Benefit, It was complete mayhem, Kendall says. Within 90 minutes, about 200 injured were triaged and transported, mostly by fire department rescues and commercial ambulances; the balance in commercial and fire department buses and private vehicles. Chiefs from several departments made CISM participation mandatory. Lack of adherence to existing fire codes and standards can be catastrophic. 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. A 2005 seminar estimated 20 to 30 critical third-degree burn victims were saved by firefighters. A fast-moving fire engulfed the club in five and a half minutes, as 230 people were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured. All Many will not discuss the incident; some still receive medical care. Seconds later, the fire department arrived and began to flow water in the area of the front door. Share. This week marks 20 years since the horrific Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, which killed 100 people and left 230 injured. The stampede to get out led to a crush in the narrow hallway leading to the front exit, quickly blocking the exit completely. This fellowshipping, the strength it has in the healing is amazing. Survivors' injuries mirrored those of the deceased. >> HE HAD A HEART OF GOLD. During a sound check before the show, the band are energetic and enthused as they run through songs from their latest album, Elation, sounding much like the young Sunset Strip rockers they were when they began more than 30 years ago. NEVER FORGET THE VICTIMS OR THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT TRAGIC NIGHT. For many, the misunderstanding proved fatal. Another 230 were injured. This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2021. The nightclub was known for heavy metal music, and that evening the headliner was metal band Great White. Kulas Road is about 33 ft east of the side bar exit. The band tried to go on with Russell several times, but his addictions, they say, became uncontrollable. Eagan moved to Nevada six weeks ago. Victims were evaluated and transported from there until triage was consolidated at the CIR. On her right forearm is a tattoo that reads, To whom that much has been given, much will be required.. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched an investigation into the nightclub fire. 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's official licensed capacity was 404. Most of those bodies were recovered near the stage and dance floor. After the tour bus was removed, the Warwick tower ladder backed into the A-side parking lot adjacent to the West Warwick engines. 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. On February 20, 2003, a fire in a small club in, Rhode Island once again reminded us that his, tory can and will repeat itself. The next time you're at a bar or nightclub (or any venue, really): 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 If you notice Overcrowding Blocked or unmarked exits Fire hazards Anything that makes you feel unsafe LEAVE A Warwick police officer, observing medical supplies dwindling, directed "gun trauma kits" retrieved from patrol cars. Due to the large number of deceased, teams made multiple recoveries. The other aspect of this decision was a belief by many that smaller assembly occupancies have a reduced life-safety risk because they can be readily evacuated. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. 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. It was basically just me and him and his solo band, Kendall says backstage at the Chumash. 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. 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. A lock ( Patrons self-evacuated and were assisted out by police and surviving patrons prior to Engine 4's arrival. According to the 2005 NIST final report, the fast-spreading fire caught the wooden frames and aggravated the consumption, with an estimated 95 percent of the fuel load consisting of the wooden structure and paneling. This is a police photo of The Station nightclub owner Jeff Derderian taken Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, at the West Warwick, R.I. Police Station. Another stated that only four hospitalized victims expired, which was attributable to the airway-management skills of the EMTs and emergency physicians. 100 lost their lives, and about half were injured, either from burns, smoke inhalation, or trampling. WFD Battalion 1, parking at the CIR, was confronted by injured seeking help. 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. Allegion plc, 2021 | Block D, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, Co. Dublin, Ireland REGISTERED IN IRELAND WITH LIMITED LIABILITY REGISTERED NUMBER 527370 Allegion is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer A fast-moving fire engulfed the club in 5 minutes. That is that bands legacy, says Victoria Potvin Eagan, a fan who escaped the inferno. Only registered ICC members have access to this article at this time. Some of the emotions you go through are, like, What happens to the legacy? Commercial companies and independent ambulance corps provided another 15 to 20 ambulances. Technically, it wasnt Great White that took the stage on February 20th, 2003 at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI. 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