The Station Fire 5th anniversay

[DaneyDuke]

The Station West Warwick Rhode Island

February 20th 2003

Five years ago a little after 11pm, the fourth deadliest night club in United States history happened. Started by a band’s pyrotechnics being set off, as they began their first song. The band was not aware that the night club was using flammable soundproofing foam. The night club did not have a sprinkler system installed. The club had been inspected two months before the fire. No one got a permit for the pyrotechnics. The club said they had not been told, a band member claimed the club had been informed.

In twenty seconds, the lives over 400 people in that building changed.
96 died that night, 4 others in the hospital and over 200 people injured.

Children who lost one or both parents.

December 9th 2003

Club owners & brothers – Michael & Jeffery Derderian and the band’s former manager Daniel Biechele were charged with 200 counts of manslaughter each -criminal negiligence manslaughter and misdemeanor manslaughter. The three plead not guilty. The Derderians were also fined 1.07 million dollars for not having employee workers compensation insurance.

November 14th 2005

Lawyers tried to get all charges dropped for the Derderians. A company saleperson fax... That said American Foam Corp’s policy was not to tell customers about product flammablity or other hazards.

February 7th 2006

Daniel Biechele plead guilty to 100 counts in a plea baragin, instead of trial that was to start on May 1st 2006.

May 10th 2006

Daniel Biechele sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.

September 19th 2007

Rhode Island parole board announced Daniel Biechele would be released March 2008.

September 21st 2006

The Derderians changed their plea from not guilty to no contest.

Michael Derderian sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.

Jeffery Derderian sentenced to 10 years in prison – 10 years suspended, 3 years probation and 500 hours community service.

January 2008

Rhode Island parole board announced Michael Derderian will be released in September 2009.

February 2008

Providence television station WPRI made an out of court settlement for 30 million dollars. It is the largest law suit amount to be awarded so far and there are still law suits pending from survivors and victims families. The Station owner Jeffery Derderian was a reporter for WPRI and was doing a story about night club safety. WPRI camera man Brian Butler captured the fire on tape. He was also accused in a federal suit of blocking an exit while filming.

Clear Channel Broadcast made a tentative settlement for $22 million dollars. They owned WHJY-FM, rock station that promoted the Great White concert.

Those who lost hearing or vision, can no longer enjoy listening to music or reading a book. Some injured survivors still face life time medical treatement and or surguries.

Feburary 17th

The Station Fire Memorial Foundation unveiled plans for a permanent memorial at a ceremony to survivors, families and friends of those who died. The Foundation would like to build it where The Station, the land is tied up in lawsuits at this time. Make shift memorials for the last five years have marked where the nightclub was.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/

http://www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org/index.htm -
Station Fire Memorial Foundation “We will remember”

[Capt_Redneck]

Daney

Thank you very much for the info. Still such a tragedy and my heart goes out to those victims...


Darrell

[General Grant]

What does one say to something like this?
I can't imagine the pain they have gone through.


I do remember that report on the news vaguly, but I didn't know about all of the details that you shared, Daney. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.
I cannot even begin to imagine how the lives of those people and their families were changed. That must be so devestating. 96 people... I can't even comprehend the pain that their families, friends, and neighbors, must have felt and are still feeling.

I hope that all of them are finding joy in the midst of all of the pain they are going through.

To all of the victims injured or killed and their loved ones: I wish you all the very best, and we are all here for you... I just don't know what to say. I wish you happiness in all of life.