"They would want to talk," she said, "and they wouldn't freak. I had fourth-degree burns there, which means my hair will never grow back, she says. A new documentary recounting that terrible. Many of the victims . In June, Russo tasted solid food for the first time since February 20th. A state request for federal disaster relief was denied on grounds that the fire did not meet the definition of a natural disaster. . Families of victims, survivors share their stories of The Station nightclub fire | WJAR Monday marks 20 years since Rhode Island experienced the single worst disaster the state has ever. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. "The first time I went to counseling, I made the therapist cry," Del Sesto said. You bury nine people in a period of less than two weeks, she said, and yeah, I think it affects you. Her father won't visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, she said. The Station Nightclub was a popular heavy metal nightclub in West Warwick, RI built in 1946 and grandfathered out of the 1976 fire sprinkler law. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008 after serving less than half his four-year sentence. Ive still got some openings in my skull, but theyre closing enough to where I can start reconstructive surgery., The Station Fire: One Year Later, Page 1 of 3. Two funds administered by the United Way and the Rhode Island Foundation raised almost $3.8 million for victims of the fire and their families, but gave out most early on. Incredibly, West Warwicks fire marshal, Denis Larocque, remains on the job. Since then, three more have died, but 33 severely burned people have survived. If they think about us at all, its probably, They must be all better, so why arent they back to work?. I look at my scars every day. The Station Fire Memorial Foundation website states that the memorial will be a celebration of the lives of the 100 lost directly as a result of the fire.. Nothing lifts his despair. Rhode Island Honors 'The Station' Nightclub Fire Victims 20 Years Later NECN. CNN reported, A statement released by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian [co-owners of the Station nightclub] read: At no time did either owner have prior knowledge that pyrotechnics were going to be used by the band Great White., Dominic Santana, owner of the New Jersey nightclub Stone Pony, claimed Great White had used pyrotechnics during a show at his nightclub without permission. That night is not a coherent memory for her, she said, but a sequence of moments when she was hyper-focused on finding her friends or helping those around her. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (OSV NEWS) -- Twenty years ago, Rhode Island experienced one of its greatest tragedies. 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. For the first few years she shunned memorial ceremonies but eventually was convinced to go. Greatly., Things that bother people you sit there and you shake your head and you go, if this is the worst thing that happens to me today, this month, this year, this decade, I mean, at that point its one of those things. They sold thousands of shirts, held car washes, collected change outside grocery stores and organized benefit concerts, raising about $1 million over the last five years. Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. From the Bush administration, which has a pattern of ignoring the needs of states that vote Democratic, has come almost no direct aid at all just a few hundred thousand dollars for non-medical expenses. How many people died in the station nightclub fire? 2010 The Thought & Expression Company, LLC. She mourned her fianc, and felt guilty that she survived when so many died. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. Cookie Notice the Station Nightclub invoked a swift response from government and non-governmental agencies including code developing bodies. It took about five years to come to terms with that, she said. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. Band road manager Daniel Biechele, for triggering the pyrotechnics that sparked the fire. WEST WARWICK, Rhode Island (CNN) -- Fire investigators have recovered all of the victims from the rubble of a Rhode Island nightclub, and forensic pathologists are working round the clock. The father of Jessica and Sarah as well as Melindas husband, Matt, died in The Station fire. Even if he died trying. Enter https://www.firerescue1.com/ and click OK. Many of the 100 died from smoke inhalation, while more than 200 others were injured trampled and burned. At 55, he lives with his parents and keeps to himself. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. THE STATION NIGHTCLUB FIRE 3 The station nightclub has been identified as one of the worst fire cases to have happened in the United States. In rural towns and villages, that individual may have another full-time job, or even be an unpaid volunteer. John Barylick wasn't surprised when his phone started ringing early on the frigid morning of February 21, 2003. 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. Gina Russo has no clear memory of how, with her hair on fire, she got out of the Station nightclub the night of Feb. 20, 2003. Im all for moving on, said Mr. Williams, 37, who spent 10 weeks in a coma and says he now sees as if looking through sunglasses with Vaseline on them. Greatly. Thinking it part of the show, people shouted, Its great!. The loss is still fresh for her cousins, she said, even 15 years later. to locate bodies. Rescue workers, firefighters and police officers pull bodies from the burned-out remains of The Station, a nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. February 21st, 2003 Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive/Getty She endured more than 50 operations. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. They're sustained by family and faith: Meet the Darby family. Some of the most grievously injured still work hard to get better, or close to what they were physically and emotionally before the fire. On February 17, 2003 someone discharged pepper spray to break up a fistfight in a Chicago nightclub. Early in 2001, Jeff reported on-camera about the fire hazard posed by foam mattresses. The Fire. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see Great White, an 80s band now with some new members lead by singer Jack Russell and known mainly for their hit "Once. Even if he couldn't. All defendants settled. At about 11:00 p.m., headlining band Great White began the song Desert Moon and tour manager Daniel Biechele flipped the switch to pyrotechnics, producing sparks. Skin grafts make them itch, like junkies attacking their scabs if their fingers work at all. The fire burned right to the skull, which killed all the follicles. Ms. Fisher inhaled so much smoke that anguishing night that even now, she gets winded carrying a basket of laundry. It was criminal, he says. Cameraman Brian Butler was at The Station on February 23, 2003. At 11:07 p.m., as the band launched into its opener . Now, he carries the fallout of that suggestion with him everywhere. "It was criminal," he says. Her fianc, Alfred Freddy Crisostomi, who was behind her, pushing her toward the door, perished. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. "This is a massive part of my life. She had a cellphone that was working and handed it off to anyone who needed to call home and let their family know they were safe. For annual late-night Station remembrance, memorial a peaceful, meaningful addition: On the 15th anniversary of the deadly nightclub fire, a peaceful memorial opened for the victims, family members and survivors and so that all of Rhode Island would remember. While many say they. "A true hero would have gone for it," Vanner said. Realizing the truth, Biechele gasped, I think Im in trouble. Fire reached the ceiling. Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. Since 2003, the approach of the anniversary of the Station fire, where she and her twin sister, Cara Ann, got out unhurt while 100 others died and about 200 more were injured, was four weeks of dread. She said she spent years after that in pain and anger. But has prevention actually improved? On February 20th, at 11:07 p.m. People come here to remember, said King, who wears a tattoo of his brother on his chest. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. "They all say I never would have stopped it, and I probably wouldn't have. The orthopedic surgeon hopes he can at least straighten it, although itll never work., One recent morning, at the home of her parents, in Cranston, Rhode Island, where she now lives with her two young sons, Russo adjusts the patterned bandanna that covers her head. The 4,484 square foot, mostly wood interior, club was set at a 420 person capacity. Station nightclub fire casts shadow over friends, families 20 years after. The devastation wrought by the defendant in unparalleled is our states history, White asserted. The Derderians purchased The Station in March 2000 from Howard Julian and signed a lease with the Raymond Villanova realty company to rent the property. She endured more than 50 operations. But as he watched on television in 2021 theformer club owners,brothers Jeffrey and Michael Derderian,on their whitewash tour of the truthgo unchallenged by the reporter and producers of "48 Hours," he felt that agitation rising up in him again. 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. . Twenty-nine remained in. Fifteen years since that terrible night. I didnt survive to sit home on the couch and cry, she said. He wasn't charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. All rights reserved. Biechele and Michael Derderian were sentenced to four years in prison, though each was let out early. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. As a result of the fire, the grandfather clause exempting buildings built before the mandatory sprinkler law was abolished and all Rhode Island nightclubs are required to have sprinklers. Even if the plaintiffs prevail, there may be little money to go around for those wounded in the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in American history. Widowed, they raise children on disability checks that dont reach poverty level, and they contemplate bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Ms. Fisher and Ms. Eagan are brainstorming about how to draw more support. A USA Today article reported, He completed his community service requirement last year [2007] with a local fire and rescue company and with a national agency that works for burn survivors., Michael served more than three years of his four-year sentence. and our Firefighters and rescue personnel remove one of the fatalities from the nightclub The Station in West Warwick, RI on Feb. 21, 2003. Other disfigured survivors avoid going out in public, Ms. Fisher said, but she decided early on not to avoid the inevitable stares. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. Judge Darigan asked Biechele if he wanted to say anything before the court passed sentence. On December 4, 2003 a grand jury voted 200 indictments against Biechele and both Derderians. The Station nightclub was a run-down roadhouse in the old New England mill town. Some tried to leave through the stage exit only to be confronted by bulky bouncers blocking their way, intoning, Band exit only.. As the. That was the most important thing, they didn't freak.". It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. Two decades after 100 people were killed in. The Station nightclub in West Warwick burned down Feb. 20, 2003, during a concert by rock band Great White, leaving 100 people dead and more than 200 injured. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. "I did not lead them out," he said dismissively. She finallywent home, on June 13th, 113 days after the Great White concert. The noxious smell triggered panic. In many communities, the crucial task of inspecting buildings in search of potentially life-threatening fire hazards falls to just one person. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time When January comes each year, she starts a lesson, delicately, talking about The Station and how there was a fire there. They also feel forgotten. Station Fire Memorial Foundation rejects donation from Great White singer: Out of the ashes of the Station fire, tougher building codes arose. But that help has all but disappeared, even though many of the injured face more surgeries, cannot resume full-time work, and struggle to afford heating oil and other basics. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. 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. "I would see the burn survivors, whom I'm lucky enough to call friends," Del Sesto said. I look at my scars every day. As the California band Great White took the stage that February night in 2003, pyrotechnics ignited soundproofing foam insulation which resulted in a massive blaze. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, 100 people were killed. Even if he couldnt. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more "pestering problem," he says. Even if he died trying. More on the fire:The Station fire: 100 victims in photos. The Derderians assured Warner of their hope that he would not be disturbed. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. This is a massive part of my life. Dee Snider, the lead singer for the band Twisted Sister and the concerts host, said country and Christian rock performers would join metal bands onstage to broaden the causes appeal. They are a collection of blue-collar music fans contractors, Wal-Mart workers, strippers, struggling musicians who made the mistake of turning up on February 20th, 2003, to see a washed-up boogie band, Great White, ignite outsized pyrotechnics, talismans of a long-gone glory, on a tiny stage ringed by cheap, flammable foam. All Rights reserved. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. But for anyone who was in The Station nightclub on Feb. 20, 2003, she said, a night out triggers an awareness. Lead singer Jack Russell said, Wow . Families of the killed and survivors sought for years to have the site of the horror turned into a permanent memorial. Since nobody else is going to do it, its got to be musicians, all kinds of musicians, taking care of their own and reminding people this could have happened to anyone.. Rhode Island nightclub burns A fire at a rock concert in a West Warwick, Rhode Island, nightclub kills 100 people and seriously injures almost 200 more on February 20, 2003. Sunday marks 19 years since a fire tore through The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, killing 100 people and injuring more than 200 others. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. firefighter pleads guilty to 3 counts of manslaughter, is sentenced to probation, LODD: Mich. firefighter dies after coming into contact with power line, NYPD: Burglar climbs through window of FDNY firehouse, fights with 2 firefighters, Open the tools menu in your browser. The Top 25 Music DVDs Worth Rewatching Biechele frequently paused to choke back tears as he said, Since the fire Ive 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. The noxious smell triggered panic. People stare at them in public, at the bandannas that cover their hairless heads, at their red, claw-like hands, their lack of certain facial features, their melted ears. Nine people in a period of less than half his four-year sentence a state request federal. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history history, White asserted, for whatever station nightclub fire victims bodies, continue. Would not be disturbed she sees telling the story of the Station on February 23, 2003 from through., rhode Island experienced one of its greatest tragedies survive to sit home the! 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