The former salesman for the company where the Derderians bought the deadly insulating foam says the fire destroyed his life: Barry Warner a foam salesman and neighbor of The Station nightclub suggested to the Derderians that they look into spray foam as an option to muffle the noise of the club. The Club Cinq-Sept was a nightclub in south-eastern France just outside the small town of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, Isre On the night of Sunday, November 1, 1970 a fire started at approximately 1:40 AM, apparently by a carelessly discarded match. Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. The night of the fire Jeff Derderian gave a statement to the local police and another one to an investigator with the Attorney General's Office. Why had the fire spread so quickly? You take one square inch of the foam, you hold it up with a roach clip and light it on fire with a wooden match. The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' in 2021 about The Station fire, says father who lost son: Over the yearsDave Kanehas had to find a place to storehisoutrage overlosing his18-year-oldson, Nicholas, in The Station nightclub firein 2003. And while they weren't charged in the criminal case, survivors and victims' families sued them in civil court for not warning the Derderians the foam they sent them was flammable. 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. Jeff Derderian: We feel a sense of guilt about what happened in the sense that you carry the guilt of knowing that these people aren't here anymore, and these people are hurt for the rest of their life. On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States.Orlando Police officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff. Feb 20, 2023. February 20, 2023. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. Jody King: I spent the next five or six hours going back and forth in the parking lot talking to firemen, asking firemen, "can you please pull the sheets back for me? Northeastern law professor and GBH legal analyst Daniel . Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful. On February 20th, at 11:07 p.m. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. Philadelphia's Delaware County's greatest nightclub, Pulsations. They didn't even let him talk about it. Back in the early 1980s, Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer helped start the beloved Glen Mills hangout, Pulsations Nightclub a period that he today appears to recall fondly. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. 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. "It feels like somebody knew somebody who was in that fire or knew somebody who did, so the pain is very personal.". We screwed up." 10. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We bronzed the bras and hung them over the urinals in the men's room. 150. stove pipe. They want to talk to you." Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. That was his gift. Pulsations was a 15,000-square-foot club. In the 1980s, Mr. Altemose developed entertainment venues including Pulsations, a dinner theater and nightclub in Concord, and the Riverside Speakeasy, in Graterford. into the main barroom. Almost twenty years after one of the deadliest building fires in history, the owners of West Warwick, Rhode Island's The Station nightclub are speaking out. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. Firefighter and RI state Rep. talks trauma, The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' in 2021 about The Station fire, says father who lost son, The former salesman for the company where the Derderians bought the deadly insulating foam says the fire destroyed his life. 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. Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA, United States . wordlist = ['!', '$.027', '$.03', '$.054/mbf', '$.07', '$.07/cwt', '$.076', '$.09', '$.10-a-minute', '$.105', '$.12', '$.30', '$.30/mbf', '$.50', '$.65', '$.75', '$. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated, Never-before-seen photos and details about accused Idaho killer. I had no control over my muscles. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. Jim Axelrod: Who's responsible for that foam going up on the wall? January 30, 2023 Chris McGoey. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. The West Warwick, Rhode Island club The Station was purchased by brothers Michael A. and Jeffrey A. Derderian in 2000 and three years later became a scene of tragedy that would haunt Rhode Island forever. Search Bands Concerts Venues Locations Bucket Lists Users Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Officially attributed to a short circuit, Worst club fire and second worst fire disaster in Brazil, third deadliest club fire in history, Greatest number wounded by a man-made accident in Taiwan in 50 years. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. When Laroque testified before the grand jury he claimed he never saw the 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. Band road manager Daniel Biechele, for triggering the pyrotechnics that sparked the fire. Fifth-deadliest fire in post-war Japanese history, Fourth-deadliest club fire in American history, Firefighter killed in fire; initially thought to have been started by a truck, quickly ruled as arson, Worst fire in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. "It's hard to describe the level of agony. Four parties found themselves at the center of the finger-pointing in the wake of the fire: Biechele and the Derderians, the only people ever charged in connection with the fire, each pleaded to 100 counts of manslaughter Biechele pleading guilty; the Derderians, no contest. The 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. Prime Development Corner. The original version of the following expose into the rock'n'roll lifestyle as seen in action during a post-concert meet'n'greet by The Fixx appeared in my college newspaper, Temple News, in the autumn of 1987, just after the events in question occurred.Then I added a bit of grown-up perspective to make it the 27th entry on my blog on Sept . When just brushing against it an overheard reference, a roadside glimpse can rekindle the searing pain? Michael Derderian: Correct. Jody King: He trusted the club. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. The answer is no. it became very, very hard to breathe. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". Show Transcript. Share Feedback. This is the main bar where you can get your drinks. This 4.84 AC Land is for sale on LoopNet.com. Scott James: When people arrive, they walk through this entrance and this kinda longish hallway. We're running out of time." One of them is never say die, never give up. Jeff Derderian: I remember we were trying to get people away from the building. Patrick Lynch: Again, any reference in this conversation about what the brothers say, I I take a step back and think I don't really trust it. Jeff Derderian: None of the inspections and then follow-up inspections. Station nightclub fire scene, viewed from above. The pyrotechnics ignited the walls on either side of the stage and within seconds flames spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling of the club intended to dampen sound. That was in like the 80s. Gina Russo says she emerged from the flames in a better place: But 10 years after the fire killed her fianc, after 54 operations and skin grafts to heal her burned body and treat recurring complications; after periods of sadness, anger and frustration over who was lost, who wasnt prosecuted, who never apologized, Russo says she is grateful. After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla.: How tragedy inspired one member of Great White. Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. Photos made public Tuesday revealed just a taste of the horror that unfolded during the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Fla., with stomach-turning images of a bullet-ridden bar, a shot-up . Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. We had a robot custom-built for us by International Robotronics in New York. It was the closest to a religious experience that I've seen without it being religious. Michael Derderian: Remember, I'm still in Florida. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. He transformed a bank of rooms in his hotel in Valley Forge into "fantasy suites" to entice weekend visitors. then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. Now he has a message for others struggling to come to terms with their disfiguring scars and fears of rejection: Take me as I am or keep walking., Son of Great White guitarist cheers sick children to honor his dad: His father would be proud; Beat goes on through son of Great White guitarist killed in fire. For annual late-night Station remembrance, memorial a peaceful, meaningful addition: Station fire memorial nearing completion: Hundreds witness groundbreaking for Station fire memorial: Medical teams met the challenge; everyone who got out survived that night: In firefighters' hearts, the disaster isn't over: Quiet, emotional end for Station fire remnants: RI Hospital specialists, Station fire victims reflect after a decade since deadly blaze: Station fire, 15 years later: Survivors tell their stories: Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Son of Great White guitarist cheers sick children to honor his dad: Gina Russo says she emerged from the flames in a better place: Fused by pain, Station fire survivors, loved ones mark 18th anniversary: Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Your drinks clearly There 's an exit through the kitchen 's hard to describe level! 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