Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. We ran a contest for 10 weeks, and girls competed for a breast augmentation. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. Sunday marks the 19th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, that killed 100 people. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". And that's when it starts to hit you all that you've lost. You know people didn't react instantly. As a result, the pyrotechnics ignited the sound-proofing polyurethane lining the walls and ceiling of the club. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. Out of it. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. Station Fire Memorial Foundation rejects donation from Great White singer: Out of the ashes of the Station fire, tougher building codes arose. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. 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. 0:57. Great White was part of the lawsuit. In December 2003, nine months after the fire, Jeff and Michael Derderian were in court, each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter 100 for criminal negligence, and 100 for misdemeanor manslaughter. Jeff Derderian: Why is it OK that the fire marshal is allowed to miss something or make a mistake and what he did was just an oops, but what we did was criminal? I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. The day after the fire, before a medical examiner confirmed that his brother was among the dead, King was on the phone with the Derderian brothers and wept with them. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. The night of November 28, 1942, promised all the glamour and glitz that made Boston's most famous night spot, The Cocoanut Grove, legendary. The building was demolished in 1997. At least 64 others were also sued, including the state of Rhode Island citedforthe fire inspector's failure to report the flammable foam during multiple inspections. I am proud. It was liquid fire," says former Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who investigated the disaster. w0rcu5uu Jan 13, 2022. Then there's that interior, inward swinging door by the stage that Former Attorney General Patrick Lynch says was responsible for loss of life the night of the fire. Everything went black': For reporters, tragedy, disaster and sorrow come with the territory. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? Cold air washing over me. Search Bands Concerts Venues Locations Bucket Lists Users And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. It's like a surge of bodies. A band that was performing that night used pyrotechnics that ignited polyurethane foam insulation lining the walls and ceiling of the stage platform. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. In the months and years that followed, Jody also learned about Tracy's heroic last moments. Twenty years after the nation's 4th worst nightclub fire, Rhode Island is still dealing with the collective trauma, legislative fallout and lasting impacts of The Station nightclub fire. She knew he was going to conduct the attack, federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. One of the worst mass shootings in US history claimed 49 lives at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016. / CBS News. This is solid gasoline. But does that mean it's not a crime? 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. portsmouth nightclubs 1990's portsmouth nightclubs 1990's. (No Ratings Yet) He was this anti-establishment guy and he wanted to build the greatest nightclub in the world, and I believe we did it. Northeastern law professor and GBH legal analyst Daniel . The doors would open, dry ice fog would dump out, bright lights would come on sort of like that scene in Close Encounters, and this $400,000 robot would appear to levitate out of the ship onto the floor. Before being built out into a nightclub, the building that housed Pulsations was formerly home to a family-style steakhouse, as well as an upscale supper club. In a 9-1-1 call made shortly after the shooting began, Mateen swore allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi . Unlike many of the patrons there, this was Barr's first time at the club. Poor security decisions make a nightclub too intense to manage safely. Michael Derderian: He's completely out of it. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. She and Matt knew they were expecting a girl and they had already chosen her name. The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. For everyone who was involved, the memories still haunt them. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. Explore. So, I said to Deb, "stay here. The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. One near the bar. In the 1980s, Mr. Altemose developed entertainment venues including Pulsations, a dinner theater and nightclub in Concord, and the Riverside Speakeasy, in Graterford. Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling. Orlando Police released hundreds of new photos and evidence in the Pulse nightclub massacre, as the widow of the gunman faces criminal charges in federal court in California.CLICK HERE TO SEE THE . It apparently moved you to tears. Back in 1983, Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer helped start the beloved Glen Mills hangout, Pulsations Nightclub a period that he today appears to recall fondly. It looked like it was raining black fire. But Jeff Derderian, who was helping out at the bar, says he and an employee tried to get to the stage with a fire extinguisher. It had a spaceship that flew into the room and deposited a robot on the dance floor. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. They threatened his family. Out of the ashes of the Station fire, tougher building codes arose: R.I.'s fire safety rules changed from arcane and confusing to a modern code more easily understood. I remember getting pushed from behind. We make them every day, and we hope it doesnt cost a life.. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. It was a nightclub called Pulsations that opened in 1983. undisputable. In February 2006 three years after the station nightclub burned down many in Rhode Island were shocked to learn that instead of a trial, a plea deal had been reached with Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for the band Great White. Flames can be seen on the back wall. Jeff Derderian: That door was opened immediately and that's where the band went out. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. Two people are jailed in Thailand over a fire in a Bangkok nightclub on New Year's Day 2009 that killed 67 people and injured more than 100. But he didn't know what. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. It would fly over the crowd on an I-beam track and come down over the dance floor. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. Scott James: It should not have happened. We have an exit through the kitchen. California residents do not sell my data request. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Photos of Orlando police officer Michael Napolitanos helmet, which stopped a bullet during Mateens shootout with authorities, convey just how close the cop came to the death. That happened in 2001. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. The answer is no. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. Scott James: He writes up this long, almost a manifesto about all the things that he thinks are wrong in that foam company that led to this tragedy. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. Please enter valid email address to continue. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. He doesn't know. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. So, to the people who think we don't own it I'm telling you, we DO own it ok? Twenty years have passed since the fire at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island where 100 people died in and . Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. And I knew the window was to my left. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. The fire was sparked by a welding accident on the basement, with most floors of the Dongdu building being dedicated to blue-collar activities, and the nightclub itself being located only on the fourth floor. It was a promotion called Thanks for the Mammaries. Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. Exterior shots of the nightclub also show several gaping holes where authorities used explosives to blast open a wall near the bathroom to save survivors who had been trapped for hours. Isn't that an important fact in determining who's at fault? Station owners silent as fire's 10th anniversary nears: The Derderian brothers, who purchased the West Warwick, R.I., nightclub in 2000 with hopes of making it a thriving business, still draw anger, and resentment from victims, and their families. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. That night, about a thousand revelers gathered to . That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. But, you know, they have this following to this day . some bleeding I could notice in my throat. That specific. 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 Bitten, Twice Shy. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. into the main barroom. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. Michael Derderian: Take this stuff down. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 21:26. He trusted the owners. He don't know. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. He arrived early around 8:30 p.m. Phil Barr: There really weren't that many people around early in the night. Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. "We have 39 confirmed fatalities, and we are still in the process of searching the rubble. According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. On February 20th, at 11:07 p.m. Watch. If you do a little research on Leon you'll find that he was a non-union builder in Philadelphia, which is a union town. Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to community service. The Station nightclub on Cowesett Avenue and Kulas Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island, caught fire as the band Great White shot off pyrotechnics to punctuate its entrance on stage. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. The ultimate nightclub experience.It even included a party robot!Pulsations was the brainc. Omar Mateen opened fire and killed 49 people there on June 12, 2016. And then we've got the pressure from the judge saying you know, you're going to go to jail for 30 years apiece. It was a really remarkable thing. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. Quiet, emotional end for Station fire remnants: The more than 700 pieces of evidence, trucked from the Cranston warehouse where they had been held in evidence storage, were destroyed. Now in private practice, Lynch says he looked into a host of people. She appeared on Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, Calif., where a federal prosecutor said she was aware that her husband was going to carry out the club rampage and did nothing to stop it. Station nightclub fire scene, viewed from above. In fact, they did the opposite.". it was happening so fast, fast, fast, fast. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. People come here to reflect. You were not approaching that area at all. Linda Saran: They have said they were sorry. Absolutely not. That's how thick the smoke was. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. 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