Brave Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 60 people in 4 days. Unreal! This tragedy was apparently filmed, though I haven't seen it. Heard about it on the radio onthe way to work this morning. Rhode Island Nightclub Inferno By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Writer WEST WARWICK, R.I. - A Rhode Island nightclub erupted into flames during a pyrotechnics display at a rock concert, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 150 as mobs of concertgoers frantically rushed to escape the raging fire. At least 39 were confirmed dead, West Warwick Fire Chief Charles Hall said Friday morning. The number was climbing rapidly as firefighters sifted through the rubble, said West Warwick Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer. "I think it will take a good amount of time before the building can be thoroughly searched and a definite number can be estimated," Bauer said, adding that as many as five or 10 more people could be added to the death toll. The blaze broke out at about 11 p.m. during the first song of a Great White concert at The Station in West Warwick, about 15 miles southwest of Providence. A fireworks display that was part of the show apparently ignited a substance in the ceiling, and flames quickly engulfed the club. Hours later, only a blackened shell of the one-story building was left. "The place went up within a matter of two minutes," witness John Kudryk said. The fire came just four days after 21 people were killed and more than 50 injured during a stampede in a Chicago nightclub that began when a security guard used pepper spray to break up a fight. Fire Capt. Russell McGillivray said many of the victims were found in the front door area after apparently becoming trapped trying to escape the fast-spreading flames. More than 160 people were taken to area hospitals including Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and Kent County Memorial Hospital in nearby Warwick, said Bauer. Firefighters worked into the morning Friday to pull charred bodies from the building as onlookers watched — worried about missing friends. "They were completely burned. They had pieces of flesh falling off them," said Michelle Craine of West Warwick, who was waiting to hear about a friend who was missing. "It was the worst thing I've ever seen." Paul Vanner, the club's sound technician and stage manager, said one person from the band was missing. It was not immediately known how many people attended the concert, however, one witness told The Providence Journal that about 300 people had been inside. Chaos erupted moments after the fire started. Witnesses said dozens of people dashed toward the door, and some of those who escaped were later seen staggering into a triage center. Rescuers carried dozens of people on stretchers. Hundreds of firefighters and police from across the region and dozens of ambulances were on the scene. Rescuers were pulling badly injured victims from the fire as ladder trucks poured water over the flaming skeleton of the building. "It was calm at first, everyone thought it was part of the act," said John DiMeo, who was sitting at the bar near the front door when the fire started. "It happened so fast." Jack Russell, the lead singer of Great White, told WJAR-TV he checked with the club's manager before the show and the band's use of pyrotechnics was approved. He said he felt the heat of the flames while on stage. "This place went up like the Fourth of July," he said. At a news conference, Bauer said an investigation was under way to see if the club had a license for fireworks. "Something went off with a lot of heat and caused some material, whatever was on the ceiling or in the vicinity, to go off," he said. "And I assume there was smoke, dense smoke somebody told me, and fire." Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri, who was in Stuart, Fla., to attend a governors' conference, said he planned to return to the state Friday morning. "Our hearts go out to all of them. Our hearts and prayers to all of the families that have been impacted by this. ... There's no words to describe," Carcieri said. "This is a terrible tragedy. It should not have occurred. Why it occurred is one of the questions that needs to be answered." Great White is a heavy metal band whose hits include "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "Rock Me." The band emerged in the Los Angeles metal scene of the late 1980s, selling 6 million albums and earning a Grammy nomination in 1990. They continued to tour and make albums in recent years, maintaining a strong allegiance of fans from their glory days of the 1980s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 1. Why would anyone be stupid enough to set off pyrotechnics in a small nightclub??? 2. Why would anyone be stupid enough to see Great White in concert??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Posted February 21, 2003 Author Share Posted February 21, 2003 Two good questions, Buddha. No answer for the first. As to the second, I probably would have been stupid enough in the 80s, though I never did actually see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golgo-13 Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 I have heard that insurance is going to get so steep for nightclubs now that many may go out of business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJWatson3 Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 I was trying to watch Letterman last night and they kept cutting to this story, really pissed me off. Of course they didn't report anything new, just that Great White was a heavy-metal band-- I thought they were a hair-band?? Too bad the patrons didn't try to use the other three fire exits (not chained shut). Rhode Island is a very boring place; now there is one less thing to do. Watch out if Mr.Big or Tesla comes to a town near you... the fumes from their hair-spray could be highly flammable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Im waiting for the Trixxter/Dangerous Toys reunion tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SPACESKINS Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Angry B,sorry to disagree with you but I saw Great White last year down hear in Atlanta and they put on a great show.Some people may not like heavy metal (I do),but Great White plays a brand of rock that,in this day and era, still sounds good. I'm in my late 30's and listen to 80's metal,but there are some in there teens that find metal "refreshing" and "different". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSkin Posted February 22, 2003 Share Posted February 22, 2003 The death toll is up to 96 with over 200 injured. Of course the dumb redneck band is claiming they were given the OK from the dumb redneck owner to set off pyrotechnics, whereas the dumb redneck owner is claiming the dumb redneck band did it without permission. Either way, somebody's as$ is getting locked up for a long long time. I saw the film on MSNBC. Everybody was just standing there because they thought it was part of the show, even though the ENTIRE FREAKIN' WALL was on fire. Then the guitar player turned around and stared for like 30 seconds before somebody started screaming for everybody to get out. And I must say, if I was considering going to a club before, I'm sure as hell not now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Posted February 22, 2003 Author Share Posted February 22, 2003 It's amazing how fast that place went up. The band has to shoulder a large part of the blame whether they had permission or not. They should be smart enough to look at the kind of place they were in and realize when it's not a good idea. However, even if they used the pyrotechnics without permission the owner bears some responsibilty as well. It was less than 30 seconds before the whole back wall was ablaze and the fire was creeping along the ceiling. How can you own a place apparently built out of kindling, cram it full of people and not know it's a deathtrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 There are videos coming out of other bands using Pyro at the club prior to this show. It looks like the owners are going to bear the burden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted February 24, 2003 Share Posted February 24, 2003 The ironic thing is that the clubs owners were trying to sale the place and were in the process of finding a suitor the following day. according to fox news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Posted February 24, 2003 Author Share Posted February 24, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 There are videos coming out of other bands using Pyro at the club prior to this show. It looks like the owners are going to bear the burden. Both the owners and the band will take the hit on this. Several other clubs have come out and said that Great White used these effects without permission. They shouldn't have used them even WITH permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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