The Station Nightclub Fire: One Year Later
by George Dionne

February 20th 2003. The Station Nightclub. West Warwick, Rhode Island. Shortly after 11PM. It was one year ago when the third largest nightclub fire in history claimed the lives of 100 rock fans, and injured hundreds more. Just seconds after the eighties rock band Great White took the stage, sparks from a pyrotechnics display ignited a piece of sound-proofing foam which surrounded the stage. That small flame grew quickly, engulfing the club with thick, black smoke and fire reaching to the rafters in less than three minutes. Panic ensued as 400+ people, most unfamiliar with their surroundings, scrambled for an exit. Some fans made it out the door and others climbed through broken windows. Those who exited tried to help the others still inside. Somehow in the panic, a large group of people became impacted in the doorway, just inches from safety. It was an image that no one could forget. Sadly, most didn’t make it. Fire and rescue crews worked relentlessly through the night to save lives, tend to the injured, and put the flames out. One year later, those involved are still trying to heal, physically and mentally. One year later, they are trying to move forward with their lives, and put the memories behind them. I should know, I was there. I saw it all.

First of all, I'd like to thank those who sent me kind, supportive, and sympathetic e-mails. Your reassurance and empathy really helped me through that difficult period. It was an emotional time, and I did not foresee the after effects that would follow me all year. It's still something I think of weekly. How could I not, the media brings it up ad nauseam anytime a little piece of information develops. Fortunately, at this point in my life I have come to terms with what happened and I don't obsess about it anymore. If you'd like to read what I wrote just one day after the fire, it will be attached at the end. A few days after the fire, I sought psychiatric help. It was nice to talk to an outside party that wasn't attached to me emotionally. Though I was assured that there was nothing more I could have done for others, it was months before I truly believed it. I missed a week of work to clear my head.

Of course the number one thing my co-workers wanted to talk about was the Station Fire. They were all understanding of my boundaries, and were genuinely concerned. I questioned whether I wanted to continue in my current career, or with my contributions here at RockRage. I had tickets to the Whitesnake/Scorpions show back in March. I was still too shaken to go to a concert. They were probably the best seats I've ever gotten too (third row center). It wasn't until May that I returned to the concert scene. You better believe I was still paranoid! I made sure I knew where all the exits where, and stayed close to one of them. I also looked for extinguishers and overhead sprinklers. This concert helped me though. It helped build my confidence and convinced me that The Station was an isolated incident.

The news media tracked me down after reading my accounts of the event. I wasn't seeking the publicity because I felt there were others who went through more than I did. It did help to speak about it. I knew that when I did, it would not only ease my burden, but it would help others understand what happened, how it may have affected those involved, and answer any questions that concerned people had. The outlets that I spoke with were comforting and not intrusive. Well, the local paper that printed my street address, after I asked them not to, kind of ticked me off. That of course led to other news outlets finding me. The Providence Journal tracked me down and explained to me that they were compiling a list of all persons that were at the show. They said they were working with the Rhode Island State Police to see if the club was over capacity. In the end they discovered it was indeed overcrowded that night by about 100 people.

After that interview, it wasn't long before I was visited by the Rhode Island State Police. They were taking statements and asking questions of the survivors, relating to the eventual indictments of club owners Jeff and Michael Derderian, and Great White tour manager Dan Biechele. The questions were quite specific and sometimes intrusive. I guess some of my answers deviated from previous ones. Nine months after the incident it's a little tough to answer questions like, "Had you ever been to the Great White website before the fire?" Honestly, I couldn't remember if I had or not. This led to, "How did you know about the concert? How did you get tickets? How did you know they were going to film a DVD two nights after?" I remember finding all that information on the web, but specifically at mistabone.com, I didn't think so. I don't think they believed me, because they wanted me to rattle off all the places I get my music news. I think they thought I was trying to protect the band. I guess there may have been a graphic that appeared when you entered the Great White web page that showed Jack Russell on stage with pyro going off.

My experience during and after the Station Fire seemed miniscule and unimportant when I met Alan Smithee over the summer (I changed his name for this article). Alan was on the hiring list for the local Police Department. He went to the nightclub to see Great White with his fiancé. Alan was a big fan of the eighties rock scene. Alan's experience that night was quite horrific. When the fire began that night, he and his fiancé headed for the stage exit. They were denied access by the bounce at the door. By the time Alan had turned around for the main exit, the fire was out of control, the crowd became panicked, and thick black smoke was filling up the room. Alan said he was having a hard time breathing and seeing. He was holding onto his fiancé’s hand when he felt something fall on top of him, knocking him to the ground. He thought it might have been a support beam.

At this point he was dazed and he lost track of his fiancé. Alan screamed and felt around for her, but could not locate her. The smoke got so thick that Alan passed out. He said that he came to shortly after and said to himself, "I have to get out of here." Alan said he felt really hot and he knew that he was on fire, but he did not feel any pain. He was determined to escape. Alan was in "survival mode", crawling along the floor, crawling over people, in hopes to get to an exit. I don't remember if he got out the door or a window, but Alan got out. Alan searched frantically for his fiancé in the parking lot, not realizing the severity of his injuries. Sadly, Alan's fiancé didn't make it. She left behind two young children as well.

Alan required many days in the Hospital for his injuries, and he faces many, many more days of physical therapy. When I saw Alan I could see the scars from that terrifying night. He had been burned on the back of his head and on one ear. The ear appeared to have melted from the flames. Alan told me that his back was scarred from the flames as well. I could see that he was wearing special gloves over his badly burned hands. He had started regaining partial use of his hands again. He still had trouble maintaining a grip. He went through several skin graphs, and will have many more. Alan could not work and will be taken off the Police list until his injuries no longer impair him.

As if Alan hadn't gone through enough, his fiancé’s family will not allow him to visit her children. He said it was because the family thought that seeing Alan would remind the children of their mother's tragic passing. Alan loves the children as if they were his own and has fundraisers in his fiancé’s memory to raise money to support the children. Alan also spoke at several town meetings and hearings about stronger fire codes and inspections. At the time I spoke to Alan, he had received no money from charities to help with his injuries and rehabilitation. In my opinion, Alan is one brave person. Not just for surviving the fire, but for carrying on while everything around him fell apart. I know there are hundreds of survivors like him too. I applaud each and every one of them.

There have been several issues pertaining to the Station Fire that have rubbed me the wrong way. MTV had virtually no coverage of the event. Great White is certainly not a top tier act these days, or back in the day for that matter, but they sold a few million albums in their time, and the "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" video was played in heavy rotation when it debuted. Thank goodness MTV supplied us with endless amounts of Real World and Road Rules marathons, as well as 11,478 replays of "the kiss". Correct me if I'm wrong, but none of the music award shows acknowledged the event. Hadn't Great White been nominated for a Grammy Award, as well as several others awards? Federal disaster funds were denied by President Bush. That action was a strong blow to victims. Let's face it, the expenses involved with this tragedy go way beyond the immediate period following the incident. The funds would have greatly helped the survivors.

Then there were the "fifteen minutes" of fame seekers. There was a man that said he lost his girlfriend in the fire so he could receive the free services. It turned out that he lied. That only hurt the real victims. Two days after the fire, T-Shirt Hell released a shirt that read something to the effect of, "Eighties metal band Great White kills all 100 of their fans". Now I understand what T-Shirt Hell's whole niche is, but that was really poor taste, especially while it was still fresh. Later they dropped the “Great White” from the shirt, and eventually abandoned it. Now I'm all for grieving, but the woman that removed Great White guitarist Ty Longley's memorial cross, months after it was erected mind you, because she felt he killed her daughter and didn't deserve to be remembered, was way out of line. Ty suffered the same fate as her daughter. Most likely they were both trying to help others, unaware of the severity of the situation. He has loved ones just like this woman's daughter that he left behind. It is very sad that this woman lost her daughter, but Ty's family and friends have the right to grieve and preserve his memory without interference, just like she does.

Another incident was when Great White went out on tour this summer to try and raise money for the victims of the fire. A small group of survivors and families of victims didn't want the band playing in Massachusetts. Ultimately due to the pressure the club was receiving, Great White did not play the area. Initially, the band wanted to tour weeks after the fire, and I agree, that was too soon. By the time they went out in August, I think enough time had passed for them to play. I can understand the hatred and blame towards the band, but this is the only thing they know how to do, and they wanted a way help out. I think a Great White concert is probably one of the safest places to be now. They did raise $64,000 for the victims in the end. Also, what was up with the manager of the club in New Jersey holding a press conference about Great White's unauthorized pyrotechnics (I'm not saying the band should have set them off, they definitely shouldn’t have)? Perhaps a call to the Station about their defiant behavior would have helped. If it was such a problem for him, why didn't he stop the show and kick the band out? Oh yeah, he'd have to refund the money.

The two questions that I'm asked the most are, are you going to file a lawsuit and who do you think is responsible? First off, I will not file a lawsuit. I don't feel I deserve any money for what I went through. I lived, with no personal injuries. That means more to me than any amount of money. Besides, there are hundreds of injured people who actually need the money to pay medical bills and other debts. Unfortunately, there may be little money to be paid out. Those closely involved that could be held accountable don’t have enough money for all those affected. Last year I said that I don't blame Great White and I don't blame the Derderians. I still believe what happened wasn't intentional, but there were several negligent acts by those involved, and in order for things to change, someone needs to be held responsible, and ultimately punished.

Let's take what we know about the Derderians. They allegedly carried no workman's comp insurance, they allegedly lined the walls with the cheapest, most flammable material they could find, they didn't have fire extinguishers near the stage, they allegedly over-crowded the club, and they've had pyro there before without the proper permits. On the other hand, someone allowed them to operate that way. As far as Great White's tour manager Dan Biechele goes, he allegedly lit the fuse that ignited the pyro, but how many times had he done this without incident? However, it was a bad idea for him to do so repeatedly without supplying his own fire extinguisher. If you do something like this all the time, you shouldn't rely on outsiders if something goes wrong. I'm sure that justice will be served, but I'd be surprised if any of them get more than five years in prison, if any. There will definitely be huge fines issued. I think it will boil down to negligence vs. intent.

Myself and four hundred other rock fans will never forget the night of February 20th 2003. It was a horrible tragedy that I hope we can all learn something from. I know that when I go anywhere, I'm more aware of my surroundings. I'll stand firm with my belief that if something doesn't look right, then it's not right! A motto that quite possibly saved my life. There are still plenty of people recovering from physical injuries as well as mental ones. There is also a large group of people that are in need of money; for medical bills, to replace the lost income of a family member, to support families, and numerous other expenses. I know that the economy is in the crapper, and I know that there are literally thousands of wonderful charities that help out with so many different causes. If you have the means and can donate even a little bit, please consider the victims of The Station Nightclub fire. There's one particular charitable organization that is set up specifically for this. Based on what I've read about them, they seem to be the best outlet for the victims. The organization is run by survivors and families of the victims of the Station fire. It's called the Station Family Fund. Please check them out at: www.stationfamilyfund.org

Today is a good day to tell your friends and family how much you love them! Remember that music heals, and rock and roll is eternal!

The following was originally posted February 21, 2003

My name is George Dionne. I was at the Great White show on February 20th at The Station in Rhode Island. I would like to share with you my personal account of what can only be described as a tragedy. I warn you that my descriptions may be upsetting, but it affected me immensely. I was standing approximately 5 rows back from the front of the stage. If you've seen the video footage, I was one step behind the camera man as the tape begins. The band took the stage around 11PM. A small fireworks display ignited. It was a fan-like display. It lasted about 10-15 seconds. When it died down I could see that the back wall had started to catch fire. The walls that surround the stage area were covered with a foam, egg-crate, sound-proofing material. At the site of the first flame I knew something was wrong.

I made my way towards the only exit I knew of, the front door. The exit was approximately 500-700 ft. away from my position. I could hear people laughing and cheering at the flames, I assumed they thought it was part of the show. I was yelling at people to get out the door as I made my way out of the club. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the flames had shot up the sides of the walls and was now engulfing the ceiling. It was spreading FAST! At first the crowd was calm, but as the flames spread, I found the space around me shrinking. People were now panicking and rushing for the front door. The club was filling up with toxic smoke as I cut a sharp left to get out the door. I could not see anything at this point. I began choking on the smoke. I could not see the exit, but I knew it was in front of me. The flood of people finally pushed me through the door. I made my way to the parking lot.

I looked back and saw the stage section of the club engulfed with flames. The other half of the club was filled with black smoke. I could hear people screaming and windows breaking. I saw people breaking the windows and diving out. I returned to the building to help get the people out. When I returned to the front door, I could not believe what I was looking at. There were 35 or so people stuck in the door way. They were stacked in rows on top of each other, at least 7 rows high. Black smoke was pouring out above them. You could see that there were people behind them as well. A small group of people were pulling at the people in the pile to try and move them. I jumped up on the ramp and grabbed an arm. I pulled and pulled with all my strength just to try and move them. There were others helping me, but we could not move anyone.

The smoke was getting really think and starting to choke me. I continued to pull. The smoke was just too much for me, I had to let go of the arm. It was the toughest decision I had to make and I am still trying to cope with it. I stepped away from the building as I watched the smoke start to cover my view. It was at this point I dropped to my knees and prayed. I not as religious as I could be, but I needed to do it. I thanked my God for saving me. I prayed for the people still trapped inside. As I got up to leave, I saw the most horrifying image.

The flames had made there way to the door way. The people on the top of the pile were on fire. There was nothing anyone could do for them. I watched as the fire grew around these poor, helpless people. I broke down right there. I could see them suffering and there was nothing I could do. I left the club as the Fire Department arrived. I did not want to get in their way. I drove down the street, but had to pull over, because I was so distraught. I called my wife and told her how much I loved her. I called everyone that I love and told them that I loved them. I spent the whole night thinking about what had happened. I did not sleep. Everytime I thought about it, I cried. I shook all night. I still shake a little as I type this. It upsets me everytime I repeat my story. I regret so much that I could not help more. However, I am so glad to be alive.

I know it people say it all the time, but I ask that you remind your loved ones how much you love them. You really don't know if it will be the last time you see them. I feel blessed that I have a loving family and dear friends. I do not blame Great White or The Station for what happened, it was just a tragic accident. I can only image the grief and suffering that these people are going through. My prayers are with the injured. My prayers are with the families of those who did not make it. I am comforted in knowing that the deceased are in a better place.