The Station nightclub fire

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The Station nightclub fire on the evening of Thursday, February 20, 2003, was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history, killing 100 people and injuring more than 200. Ninety-six perished on the night of the fire, and four died later from their injuries at local hospitals. The Station, which regularly hosted hair metal and 80s rock bands, was a nightclub in West Warwick in Kent County in the state of Rhode Island.

Contents

[edit] The fire

Screenshot showing the beginnings of the fire

The fire started about 11:08 PM, just seconds into headlining band Great White's opening song "Desert Moon", when pyrotechnics set off by their tour manager, Daniel Biechele, lit flammable soundproofing foam behind the stage. The flames were first thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to billow did people realize it was uncontrolled. Only 20 seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing, and lead singer, Jack Russell, remarked into the microphone, "Wow... this ain't good." In less than a minute, the entire stage was engulfed in flames. The only emergency exit was towards the back of the building, behind the performing band, where a security guard turned away any persons who were not affiliated with the rock band. Therefore, the only exit was the entrance, where the ensuing stampede in the inferno led to a crush for the main door, eventually blocking it completely and resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among the patrons and staff, who numbered somewhat more than 404, the highest of three conflicting official capacity limits. Of those in attendance, roughly one quarter died (either from burns or smoke inhalation), and half were injured. Among those who perished in the fire was Great White's lead guitarist, Ty Longley.

The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices intended to produce a controlled spray of sparks. Gerbs are labeled using two numbers: one for how long the effect lasts, and one for how far the sparks fly. Biechele was fond of using 15 by 15's, which spray sparks 15 seconds for 15 feet. Three of that same caliber, at 45-degree angles, with the middle one pointing straight up, were the kind used that night. Gerbs are considered appropriate for indoor use before a nearby audience when proper precautions are observed.

An NIST investigation of the fire, using computer simulations and a mock-up of the stage area and dance floor, concluded that a sprinkler system would have successfully contained the fire enough to give everyone time to get out safely. However, due to its age (built in the late 1930's) and size (4,484 square feet), the Station was not required to have a sprinkler system, and it was not equipped with one.

Also the blueprints show that the entryway to the nightclub had a ramp which blocked off a straight exitway through the door. When exiting the building, one would have to exit either right or left because the building was constructed to lead two entry ways with the handrail running parallel with the building.


The beginnings of the fire were caught on videotape by cameraman Brian Butler for WPRI-TV of Providence. He was there, ironically, for a planned piece on nightclub safety being reported by Jeffrey Derderian, a WPRI news reporter who is also a part-owner of The Station. The report had been inspired by the Chicago nightclub stampede that had claimed 21 lives only four days earlier. At the scene of the fire, Butler gave this understandably-agitated account of the tragedy:

[edit] Brian Butler's description at the scene:[1]

Brian Butler recounting the astonishing rapidity of the fire
   
“
 ...It was that fast. As soon as the pyrotechnics stopped, the flame had started on the egg crate backing behind the stage, and it just went up the ceiling. And people stood and watched it, and some people backed off. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, 'Yes, that's great!' And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. This is the time to leave.

At first, there was no panic. Everybody just kind of turned. Most people still just stood there. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. 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.

That's when I turned back. I went around back. There was no one coming out the back door anymore. I kicked out a side window to try to get people out of there. One guy did crawl out. 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. And by then, the black smoke was pouring out over their heads.

I noticed when the pyro stopped, the flame had kept going on both sides. And then on one side, I noticed it come over the top, and that's when I said, 'I have to leave.' And I turned around, I said, 'Get out, get out, get to the door, get to the door!' And people just stood there.

There was a table in the way at the door, and I pulled that out just to get it out of the way so people could get out easier. And I never expected it take off as fast as it did. It just -- it was so fast. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke.
   
”

Thousands of mourners attended a memorial service at St. Gregory the Great Church in Warwick on February 24, 2003, to remember those lost in the fire. Following the tragedy, Governor Donald Carcieri declared a moratorium on pyrotechnic displays at venues that hold fewer than 300 people.

Make-shift memorial at the location of the Station night club
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Make-shift memorial at the location of the Station night club

Currently, the site of the fire is an empty lot, with the exception of a multitude of crosses, memorials left by loved ones of the dead.

Great White continued to tour, saying a prayer for the friends and families touched by that fateful night at the beginning of each concert. The band said they would never play the song "Desert Moon" live again. "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said lead singer and founder Jack Russell.[2] Guitarist, Mark Kendall stated, "We haven't played that song. Things that bring back memories of that night we try to stay away from. And that song reminds us of that night. We haven't played it since then and probably never will."[3] The band also refuses to use pyrotechnics since the tragedy.

It was the deadliest fire in the United States since the 1977 Southgate, Kentucky, Beverly Hills Supper Club fire that claimed 165 lives. The worst nightclub fire was November 28, 1942, in Boston at the Cocoanut Grove, where 492 died after paper decorations caught fire. The Rhythm Night Club Fire in Natchez, Mississippi, claimed the lives of approximately 209 persons during a dance in 1940. The Station fire exceeded the death toll of 87 in the March 25, 1990, Happyland Fire in the Bronx, New York City.

[edit] Investigation

Biechele at the time of his booking, December 9, 2003
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Biechele at the time of his booking, December 9, 2003

Investigators focused on the foam material which had been installed behind the stage. The foam was of a kind intended for use in packaging and product display and not for sound-treating buildings, and would not have been treated with fire-retardant materials used in acoustic foam. Witnesses to the fire have reported that once ignited, flames spread across the foam at approximately one foot per second. Through attorneys, club owners said they did not give permission to the band to use pyrotechnics. Band members have claimed they had permission.

In the early days after the fire, there was considerable effort to assign and avoid blame on the part of the band, the nightclub owners, the manufacturers and distributors of the foam material and pyrotechnics, and the concert promoters.

On December 9, 2003, Jeffrey A. and Michael A. Derderian, the two owners of The Station nightclub, and Daniel M. Biechele, Great White's former road manager, were charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter — two per death. All three pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Derderians also were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees, four of whom died in the blaze.

On November 14, 2005, lawyers for the Derderians requested all charges be dropped against their clients, alleging a grand jury was never made aware of a fax vital to the case. The fax, sent anonymously to prosecutors by American Foam Corp. salesman Barry Warner, told of his company's policy of withholding from customers the hazards of its foam products, including flammability.

[edit] Criminal trial

The first criminal trial was to be against Great White's then tour manager Daniel Michael Biechele (pron. "BEE-clee"), 29, from Orlando, Florida. This trial was expected to start May 1, 2006, but Biechele (against his lawyers' advice)[4] pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter on February 7, 2006 in an effort to "bring peace, I want this to be over with."[5] Under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors, he could have served up to 10 years in prison.

[edit] Biechele sentencing

  • On May 10, 2006, State Prosecutor, Randall White, asked the court to sentence Biechele to 10 years in prison, the maximum allowed under the plea bargain, citing the massive loss of life in The Station fire and the need to send a message. [6]
  • Speaking to the public for the first time during his trial, Biechele looked to be truly remorseful during his sentencing. Choking back tears, he made this statement to the court and to the families of the victims:

[edit] Biechele's statement to the court:

Biechele giving his tearful statement to the court
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Biechele giving his tearful statement to the court
   
“
 For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night.

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. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. I never imagined that anyone ever would be.

I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anybody else to.

I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones.

I'm so sorry for what I have done, and I don't want to cause anyone any more pain.

I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it.

I am so sorry.
   
”
  • As the thirty-minute sentencing progressed, Biechele accepted responsibility for his crime.
  • Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself."
  • Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan sentenced Biechele to 15 years in prison, with four to serve and 11 years suspended, plus three years probation, for his role in setting off the nightclub fire.[7]
  • With good behavior, Biechele will be eligible for parole in September, 2007.
  • Judge Darigan considered that and deemed him highly unlikely to re-offend, which were among the mitigating factors that led to his decision to impose such a sentence.
  • The sentence drew mixed reactions in the courtroom. Many of the families believed that the punishment was just; he was going to have time to repent for what he had done. However, many after the trial were hysterical, still desiring justice for their lost loved ones.[8]

[edit] Nightclub owners trial

As jury selection was happening in the second criminal trial of Nightclub owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the Derderians struck a plea bargain with prosecutors that would see Michael Derderian serve four years in a mininum security prison, and Jeffrey Derderian's 10 year sentence would be suspended in return for 500 hours of community service.

This outraged the families of the victims of the Nightclub fire, stating that justice had not been done in the case. They were also outraged to hear the news from reporters instead of Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who was attempting to reach families to tell them that a plea deal had been reached.

[edit] The Tribute?

At the funeral of Ty Longley, Jack Russell told reporters that the surviving members of Great White were planning a tribute recording, dedicated to the memory of Ty and those who died in the fire. When asked what the recording will be, Jack laughed and said, "What else but Great Balls Of Fire and Firehouse?" in a reference to the Jerry Lee Lewis and KISS songs, respectively. He later retracted the statement, stating that the stress of the situation made him say it, but the damage had already been done.

[edit] Referenced In

TV Series: "Law & Order"
Episode: "Blaze"
Original Air Date: October 29, 2003 (Season 14, Episode 5)

This episode featured an 80's rock bands concert at a small night club where the pyrotechnics set off a fire killing 23 people. While the main events of the episode were loosely based on the fire at The Station Night Club, many differences are present.

When originally aired on WJAR-TV 10 in Rhode Island it included a disclaimer at the beginning stating that the topic of this episode had some similarities to the events at The Station and may upset some viewers.


TV Series: "CSI: Miami"
Episode: "Tinder Box"
Original Air Date: May 5, 2003 (Season 1, Episode 22)

This episode features a nightclub fire that results in a fatal stampede. The fire was set off by a man who had failed the Fire Academy entrance exam; he hoped that he could be a hero in the fire he started and be accepted to Academy, but the fire grew out of control.

The entire episode was blacked out from its initial broadcast in Rhode Island, and was also blacked out there during its rebroadcast during the summer months of 2003.

In ironic casting, actor Jonathan Togo joined the cast of "CSI:Miami" in 2004. Togo made an appearance in "Blaze" as one of the victims of the nightclub fire.


Book: "Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story"
Author: Chuck Klosterman
Copyright: 2005

The fire is a theme for Chapter Three and is described in detail.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] News articles

[edit] Other links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Butler, Brian. "Nightclub Fire Kills 39 People", CNN, February 21, 2003.
  2. ^ Arsenault, Mark. "Great White: Performing again is the right thing", The Providence Journal, July 31, 2003.
  3. ^ Mervis, Scott. "After the fire: Great White, survivors live with the horror of Rhode Island tragedy", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 25, 2005.
  4. ^ Peoples, Steve. "Prosecutor wants 10 years for Biechele", The Providence Journal, May 10, 2006.
  5. ^ Peoples, Steve. "Prosecutor wants 10 years for Biechele", The Providence Journal, May 10, 2006.
  6. ^ Peoples, Steve. "Prosecutor wants 10 years for Biechele", The Providence Journal, May 10, 2006.
  7. ^ Perry, Jack. "Biechele gets 4 years to serve", The Providence Journal, May 10, 2006.
  8. ^ Perry, Jack. "Biechele gets 4 years to serve", The Providence Journal, May 10, 2006.
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