WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- The death toll continues to creep upward from the fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island Thursday night. Officials say 96 are confirmed dead with an additional 180 injured. Rhode Island's Governor warns the final death toll may well be over 100. Another 35 are still reported in critical condition at hospitals in Boston, Worcester, and Providence.
This is the 4th worst nightclub tragedy in US History and the worst nightclub tragedy in New England since November 1942 when Boston nightclub Coconut Grove went up in flames killing 492 people. That fire was the impetus for many regulations that are commonplace today, including illuminated exit signs and exit doors that swing outward.
About 300 people were watching the opening song of a concert by the 80s Rock band Great White when the fire broke out about 11 p.m. Thursday Night.
A Providence TV station happened to have a photographer shooting video for a story about nightclub saftey when the fire began. WPRI's video clearly shows the effect going off and instantly setting the wall behind the stage ablaze.
Audience members were slow to react believing that the fire was part of the act. The extra time it took them to leave may have cost many their lives as the structure was destroyed within THREE minutes.
According to West Warwick's mayor, neither the band, nor the club had a license for indoor pyrotechnics and given the size of "The Station" (only one story high), it is unlikely that one would have been issued.
The governor said "somebody made a bad decision" to allow the pyrotechnic displays to be shot off in the building.
The club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, speaking through their attorney Kathleen Hagerty, said "At no time did either owner have prior knowledge that pyrotechnics were going to be used by the band Great White"
They added, "No permission was ever requested by the band or its agents to use pyrotechnics at The Station, and no permission was ever given."
Russell repudiates the statement saying that club's manager gave the band permission to use the pyrotechnics.
This was not the first time that Great White had used Pyrotechnics without permission from a venue or a government entity.
Just last week, Great White had played at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The owner of the club, Dominic Santana, said Great White had used pyrotechnics without permission.
Then, only this past Tuesday, Great White had just performed at a club in Bangor, Maine club called Russell's.
According to Maine Public Safety Department spokesman Steve McCausland, the band may have used pyrotechnics at that show as well despite not having a permit to do so.
Among the unaccounted and presumed dead are the band's Bass Guitarist Ty Longley and a Providence radio Disc Jockey.
This is the second club tragedy in less than a week here in the US. Over the weekend, 21 people were trampled and crushed to death after panic set in at a Chicago nightclub.
On Monday night, about 120 people escaped unharmed after a band's pyrotechnic display apparently set the ceiling on fire at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis. That fire was extinguished within 15 minutes.
[ February 22, 2003, 12:35 AM: Message edited by: Jim Casey ]