Station Nightclub Fire Video (a must see for code enforcement and firefighters)

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Permalink Reply by FireRescue1.com on February 19, 2008 at 8:10pm

Wow, very emotional video....so sad.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on February 20, 2008 at 6:34pm

Yes it is very emotional. Imagine how emotional you are (listening to the background screams) and now think of those who were there in person. This footage is a rare occurance where we can see the fire develope from the very beginning, and then see it grow to be the massive size it was.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on February 19, 2008 at 9:22pm

Hey 913, thanks for the link. I have saved several internet resources related to the Station fire, but never could find the video. I hope it is allowed to stay available. I have done a couple training's about the fire and have wanted the video to add to the program. As tragic as this was, it shows that devastating multi-casualties are still possible today, just not as prevalent as in the past. Again, thanks for the post, and my condolences to all of those affected by this tragedy.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on February 19, 2008 at 11:05pm

I agree it is an important training tool. It is sad it took so many lives to open eyes, but that seems to be the mode of operation across the globe. We are a reactive society. Whats increasingly sad is the strict fire codes that came in a wave following the Station Fire have since become lax again due to business owners across the state protesting they can't follow the fire codes.

To my knowledge the video was pulled from most sites. It took quite a bit of research to actually find a real time video of the occurances. During my Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal (NFPA Fire Inspector) we saw not only this video, but the NFPA testing scenerio's, Body placements (over 80% were in exit corridors) and the rest of the story. As you can tell by the video the firefighters were given a harsh reality of the ghastly volume of the fire upon turning into the lot. Hundreds of burned, hurt people were there to great them. Multiple People can be seen (civilians) pulling lines off the engines trying in vain to save their fellow concert attendee's. With the crowds of people, the volume of cars, Apparatus placement was not the best, but they made due.
The people who perished in the fire, and those who survived with physical injury, or the mental anguish are being done an injustice. As well I don't feel this video should become a video for sick people to view and get a rush from, I do think that firefighters like you have mentioned should view it to see that it can happen anywhere and at any time.
Just as a factual statement, I have been there. The footprint of the building was tiny. I have no idea how that many people could have fit in there, but they did. The West Warwick FD station is less than 1/4 mile away and their response time (paid department) was less than 2 minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on February 19, 2008 at 11:19pm

Only stat I didn't mention was 96 of the 100 people died inside the building. 4 of the deceased were transported only to pass away at the hospitol. There were a large quantity of ambulances from across the state that responded, as well as several mutual aid fire departments.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on February 19, 2008 at 11:26pm

Chilling. Absolutely chilling.

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Permalink Reply by Doug on February 20, 2008 at 12:21am

This makes a good point, one I constantly preach. Despite fire code infractions such as were at The Station, ALWAYS familiarize yourself with your surroundings. I can honestly say that every time I walk into a bar, club, or some other type of building in which I am unfamiliar with I take a look around. I look for marked exit signs, and I also look for those exits which are not marked and are uncommon(i.e. a big enough window to crawl through to get out) and I look for access to fire extinguishers(I am a firefighter, right?). Just glance around as you walk in, or as you're checking out the crowd look for those means of egress as well. Be safe yinz

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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on February 20, 2008 at 8:09am

Speechless. The volume of smoke and the volume of fire was quite significant, quite quickly. I can never understand why businesses, home owners, landlords etc find it so hard to follow the fire code. It's too hard, it's too expensive. It just doesn't add up at the end of the day. So simple and yet, for some it's so hard.
Good idea as well Doug. I do the same. One of my first Capts would take us into buildings, even if we were just going to get groceries, point nothing out and then ask what I saw. Then we would go back in and he would point out what I said and then the things I missed as well. Never a bad practice. I try to teach my child the same thing. If you have to get out, you certainly want to know that you can.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on February 20, 2008 at 2:37pm

You wouldn't think in this day and age that this type of incident could occur in a public building.
When petro-chemical materials are used as soundproofing and you allow many sources of ignition (smoking, indoor fireworks), you can't expect a much different outcome.
That and the fact that curtains were covering exits mere inches away from some of the victims.
Tragic, senseless, avoidable!
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on February 20, 2008 at 3:08pm

Absolutely. I remember when this first happened. I was shocked that pyrotechnics were used inside, especially with such a low ceiling (relatively speaking) and the curtains. The owner was charged extensively, wasn't he?

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on February 20, 2008 at 3:26pm

The Band Manager is in Prison (the one who ignited the pyrotechnics), and ONE of the Brothers who own the club took the sentence of prison, while the other one walked. Go to the projo link on the bottom and it has all the links to the charges and sentencing. Do I feel the punishment was fit for the crime; no, but when there is such a tremendous loss of life and injury nothing will truely be "fit" for the crime.
The civil suit on the owners, band managers and everyone who had a pulse and sponsered Great White's appearance (news channels, radio stations) civil suit against the fire department, fire marshals office and the state will probally net the family's and survivors little to no gain. The owners, band and manager will all become bankrupt, and the state will find a way to weasel out of the civil suit.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on February 22, 2008 at 6:21pm

Bump.....


Take the 13 minutes and watch the video, you will see with new eyes.

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