An Immediate Lesson from the Horror and Tragedy in Rhode Island

JeffHead.com ^ | February 21, 2003 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Tragedy and Abject Horror in Rhode Island

People trapped at the front door of The Station as the fire approaches ... and then The Station fully engulfed

Here is a first hand account that was apparently posted on www.metal-sludge.com by an eye-witness to the senseless and horrific events at The Station Night Club in Rhode Island on February 20, 2003 where 100 or more people died.

From metal-sludge: This email was just sent into us by Sludgeaholic George D. It's a chilling account of what he experienced at the Great White show last night.

My name is George D. 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 were 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 am 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 doorway. 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.

George D.

[js1138]

The exit was approximately 500-700 ft. ...

My thoughts exactly. Either a typo, or someone on heavy drugs.

[Kevin Curry]

In fact, I will tomorrow train my family on how to recognize and respond to the threat of fire in a room or structure--beginning with their own bedrooms. I should have done this long before; I just haven't gotten around to it. I will also ensure I have adequate smoke alarms and that they are in good repair. Good smoke alarms are so cheap, it would be worse than gross negligence to not do this.

[PhilDragoo]

In the late '60's we did light shows--and not pyrotechnics.

In various clubs and concerts, projectors, be they banks of Kodak Carousels with synchronizers, or overheads with Petri dishes of dyed gel, strobes, or 16mm animations, there was no open flame.

I've seen the video by the WPRI reporter from the floor several times--as soon as the pyrotechnics went off, the backdrop went up in flames--and the dancers were too stoned to do anything but wave their arms.

In the 'seventies' concerts had light effects (the semis worth for Steve Miller or Grand Funk) but the pyrotechnics I saw ('69) were limited to Jimi Hendrix pissing some lighter fluid onstage in a huge building (State Fairgrounds Coliseum).

Apparently (per owner of Stone Pony) Great White had done this effect without asking earlier--and where were their extinguishers?

I do the "check the exits" thing on planes.

Anyone who hasn't been in a fire needs to understand:

1) It's black--you can't see sh!t;
2) You take a breath and it's like getting a sledge hammer in your chest.

As for the saving someone from a fire--we were headed back to college on a rainy night and got passed by Speedball Tucker who then hit the bridge abutment.

We got him out of his burning car but he never regained consciousness and I watched his last bloody bubble form on his lips.

But even though his car was hot and flaming we opened the door and got him out.

I've seen enough of friends burning down cabins and teepees with candles--it's worse than tragic--it's outrageous.

Look for the exits; look for the extinguishers--have one in your home and car.

And don't go into a freakin' death trap and be so stoned you can't get out.

I never expected to be so old and serious--the second leads to the first.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Tell you what _Jim, why don't you substract the whole eyewitness account that you are taking issue with? Call it a fake account. Don't even consider it at all.

Now while I would agree with you that it isn't an earthshaking type of thing (in the sense that world history won't be changed by it), some people happen to see things, a lesson imparted by a certain circumstance.

Perhaps all you saw were a bunch of kids out partying who 'deserved' it.

[jwalsh07]

In the Chicago tragedy the fire exits were either blocked or locked.

In RI the fire exits were marked with well lit exit signs and emergency lights according to the fire chief on the scene.

Travis is right here, knowledge of your surroundings and a cool head are key to survival.

I once saw an experienced diver in the grips of panic at about 100 feet. He was a Brit and we were buddied up because my wife wasn't in the mood for plus 100 foot diving. I literally had to sneak up from above and behind and kick him in the head to get him to move. Either he really wasn't experienced or he had a phobia of cuda. I never found out which.

[Travis McGee]

Did you ever consider that a gasoline depot (or many of them) could be owned by an Islamist sleeper, sent to America with funds to open the business, and run it normally? That he could train and employ his own drivers "from the old country?"

That one fine day they could crash a dozen gasoline tanker trucks into the ground floor lobbies of high rises, trapping all above in the flames, until the buildings came down?

It's the easiest thing in the world to open and run a legit business in America, when Uncle Saddam is slipping you operating cash to keep it running.

The CIA and all intelligence services use "proprietary front" cover businesses overseas to mask their spy efforts.

The reverse is even simpler; do you think it is easier for the CIA to open a business in Damascus, or a "Syrian American" to open a gasoline distributership in America??

[MileHi]

I guess this place will be down soon for maintenance so

BLOAT

Cache

and...

FReegards, bros

[BansheeBill]

I posted another eyewitness account that ran in a local afternoon newspaper today, on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/848914/posts?q=1&&page=88#88

[Travis McGee]

Your rule number one for surviving a panic stampede in a croweded night club is the best:

"Don't be there."

But God bless the kids who were there just the same.

[InvisibleChurch]

a bar as long as a football field? hmmm

[harpseal]

Having had the opportunity this evening to talk by telephone with a person who was in this fire who went out the Kitchen exit, it seems the majority of the dead were stcked up trying to get out the front door. The similarities to the famoud Boston Coconut Grove fire are far too great for my taste. However, as I said I had the opportunity to speak to a 25 yearold man who had survived this fire. he and his companions walked quickly and in an orderly fashion to the kitchen door and no one required hospitalization.

He survive and his companions survived because he had a mag lightin his pocket and whenthey arrived he looked for the exit signs.

When the fire was first starting he did not initially realize that it was not part of the show. When he saw the band leave he left by the closest exit that was clear. The emergency lighting failed on the way out and his flashlight helped him.

It was very much a matter of awareness of what was going on arround him that saved him and the people with him. He recognized dange eventually and he used his prior looking for the emergency exits as his ticket to life. The young man considers himself lucky that he was also the designated driver and had not gotten as intoxicated as his friends one of whom did not even want to leave before finishing her drink.

[Jeff Head]

In my book series I have a charismatic and very devout Muslim warrior come to power in Iran who both Sunni's and Shia's believe is the Mahdi ... it unites them. He believes it himself.

As Trav and Harp know, his story and rise to power become critical to the overall scenario as he sets out to unite all of Islam by purging the unfaithful (the House of Saud, Turkey, etc.) and ejecting what he considers to be the infidels (us and Israel).

When that gets us good and engaged, N. Korea goes south and then the PRC ambushes our relief efforts. WW III results.

[Travis McGee]

So will I. Serious wake up call time.

[jwalsh07]

But God bless the kids who were there just the same

Yes Travis, may he bless and keep them all.

[Jeff Head]

I never expected to be so old and serious--the second leads to the first.

I roger that.

[Travis McGee]

Wow, incredible account. Time to get a little Sure-Fire (no pun) light and carry it, just for emergencies.

[PhilDragoo]

Mag lite dittos.

[Jeff Head]

The reverse is even simpler; do you think it is easier for the CIA to open a business in Damascus, or a "Syrian American" to open a gasoline distributership in America??

Dang ... right out of the pages of Dragon's Fury. I point them out all over and then the sleepers awake on March 15-16, 2006.

[muggs]

Thanks Jeff.

[Jeff Head]

Best to you my friend, thanks for your comments on this thread.