The Station nightclub fire
| Time | 11:07 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Date | February 20, 2003 |
| Location | West Warwick, Rhode Island, US |
| Coordinates | 41°41′03.5″N 71°30′39″W / 41.684306°N 71.51083°WCoordinates: 41°41′03.5″N 71°30′39″W / 41.684306°N 71.51083°W |
| Cause | Ignition of acoustic foam by use of fireworks |
| Deaths | 100 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 230 |
| Daniel Michael Biechele | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 8, 1976 New York City |
| Occupation | Flooring company accountant |
| Criminal charge | 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter |
| Criminal penalty | 15 years: 4 years to serve 11 years suspended + 3 years' probation |
| Criminal status | Paroled March 19, 2008 |
| Conviction(s) | Pleaded guilty Sentenced May 10, 2006 |
The Station nightclub fire occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evening's headlining band Great White, which ignited plastic foam used as sound insulation in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. A fast-moving fire with intense black smoke engulfed the club in 5½ minutes. Video footage of the fire shows its ignition, rapid growth, the billowing smoke that quickly made escape impossible, and the exit blockage that further hindered evacuation. The toxic smoke, heat and the stampede of people toward the exits killed 100; 230 were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured. Many of the survivors developed posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of psychological trauma.
It was the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in US history, killing 100 people, and the second deadliest in New England, surpassed by the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire which resulted in 492 deaths. Because it was a high-casualty fire caused by illegal indoor usage of outdoor fireworks, the 2003 disaster is similar to the 2004 República Cromañón nightclub fire in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the 2008 Wuwang Club fire in Shenzhen, China; the 2009 Santika Club fire in Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand (cause is disputed); the 2009 Lame Horse fire in Perm, Russia; the 2013 Kiss nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, and the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire in Bucharest, Romania.
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