Posted on 02/28/2003 11:10:57 AM PST by TaxRelief
By TOM MOONEY Journal staff writer
Updated 1:36 p.m. / The owner of American Foam Corp. in Johnston says The Station nightclub in June 2000 purchased $575 worth of common egg-crate packing foam for soundproofing, but it was not fire retardant.
The fire retardant foam would have cost twice as much, according to Aram DerManouelian, who said the club wanted "the lowest grade, the cheapest stuff."
"They had a choice, and they bought general purpose egg-crate foam," said DerManouelian. "It kept the noise down, but whoever figured they'd put flame on it? Jesus. For a $575 invoice, here we are."
Whether the soundproofing was safe and fire retardant, as required by law, is now at the center of the investigation into the blaze at West Warwick club last week, which has killed 97 and injured another 186 people. It was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in the nation's history and the worst fire ever in Rhode Island.
Pyrotechnics set off by the band Great White apparently ignited the foam, then quickly spread to paneling and a suspended ceiling, filling the club with thick black smoke and flames. The building was engulfed within three minutes, West Warwick Fire Chief Charles Hall has said.
DerManouelian said Michael Derderian, co-owner of the club, wrote out a check for a delivery of 25 sheets of the charcoal foam on June 27, 2000. The foam was 2 1/2 inches thick. Each sheet was 37 by 84 inches in diameter. It was made of polyurethane and is generally used for packing.
"It's unfortunate," DerManouelian said. "They did not buy fire retardant foam. Yeah, they could have. We sell fire-retardant foam. They bought the wrong kind. In hindsight, they probably didn't think they were going to have a fire."
Kathleen M. Hagerty, a lawyer for Michael Derderian, confirmed that the club had purchased the foam. She said a neighbor who worked as a salesman for American Foam Corp. suggested they use it as a solution to complaints neighbors had about noise from the club.
Hagerty refused to identify the neighbor.
"We have someone looking for him, and the AG has someone looking for him, too," Hagerty said. "I don't know where the man is. He may be out of town for all I know."
Investigators hunting for the source of the stage insulation used at The Station nightclub searched American Foam Monday night and took samples of products.
The foam was installed to appease neighbors upset by the club's noise. Michael Derderian and his brother, Jeffrey, bought the club in March 2000.
The club's former manager, Tim Arnold, of Johnston, would not confirm or deny yesterday that he had installed the foam soundproofing. A woman who answered the door at his house said Arnold no longer worked at a foam company.
Meanwhile, the grand jury is apparently back in action at Rhode Island National Guard's Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich.
Jack Russell, lead singer for Great White, entered the complex shortly after noon. Several prosecutors from the state attorney general's office were also seen driving into the camp this morning.
Russell is seeking immunity from prosecution or a letter of non-prosecution from the attorney general's office for any possible testimony before the grand jury.
The attorney general's office asked for permission to use classrooms at the camp earlier this week. The grand jury started investigating Wednesday, but did not meet yesterday.
-- With reports from The Associated Press and Journal staff photographer Mary Murphy.
It's on a decal on my A.O. Smith hot water heater and in the owner's manual --- guess they learned from McDonalds.
Temp, deg F -------time to produce 2nd & 3rd degree burns
170 -------nearly instaneously
160 ------ about 1/2 second
150 -------about 1-1/2 sec
140 -------less than 5 sec
130 -------about 30 sec
125 -------about 2 minutes
120 -------more than 5 minutes
The heater was set on 120 F, so I increased it a few degrees.
Red
Ba dump bump.
The coffee was hot, but the lawsuit was a farce. Millions drank it at that temp every day without a problem.
We had a maroon in our unit do the exact same thing (except, the lid was on, he squeezed his legs together too tight an popped the styrofoam cup apart).
All he was awarded was the nickname "Crotch". I think we took up a donation for a new cup of coffee and a plastic cup holder for his Jeepster.
A lot of information floating around out there, but I believe I read that in that state, it is the club that is supposed to get the permit. That could have been in a post and not an article though, so consider the source.
I can't believe how many people are still blaming the band for this, with all we've learned.
I have a Rainbow Vacuum. No way to get anything shorter than 10 inches close to any moving parts. Then, even if it hit anything, the moving part would probably do little to no damage.
THAT is the person that should be held responsible.
I respect and applaud your opinons the great majortiy of the time, but here we disagree. The band was reckless, IMHO.
The pyrotechnic device that ignited the deadly blaze at The Station nightclub was placed on the stage just minutes before the headline band, Great White, made its entrance, according to a member of one of the warm-up acts last Thursday night.
"I saw him jump down on his knees and hurry and get this stuff ready," Al Prudhomme, drummer for the local hard-rock band Fathead, said yesterday, adding that he did not recognize the man doing the work.
Great White's lead singer, Jack Russell, acknowledged on the night of the fire that the band had used the pyrotechnics. But, until Prudhomme spoke up, no one had said publicly when the device was placed on the stage.
Mario Giamei Jr., a Sutton, Mass., mortgage broker who worked occasionally at The Station as a bouncer, said yesterday that he did not see who set up the fireworks, but that he heard Great White's tour manager, Dan Biechele, express concern moments after the walls of the club burst into flames.
"Their guy, Dan, looked at me and said, 'I think I'm in big trouble. I [expletive] this one up,' " said Giamei.
Giamei was not working for the club Thursday night -- he was there as a fan.
Thomas G. Briody, a lawyer for Biechele, said, "I would urge the public to examine with great care the accuracy of any statement attributed to people in the frenzied moments after the fire started."
They own a piece of the responsibility.
And the fire inspector is supposed to physically TEST the materials by applying a match for 12 seconds.
So, yes, I'd slap the inspector as well; he didn't do his job.
I unserstand your point, but since the club owners and the band never filed a permit, it makes the point moot legally, IMHO.
All the fire inspector has to say on the stand is that a permit has not been filed and the law was broken with the club's and band's use of pyrotechnics without a permit.
"If the a permit had been requested, I(the fire marshall) would have gone through the proper procedures as accorded by law. And although it is not known what would or could have happened, if what happened on the night of Feb. 20th at The Station at the test of pyro's about 10 people would have to escape the inferno.
"About 340 people less than those who would have tried to escape that tragic night."
A legal arguement all rolled up in one. The negligence of the club and band not applying for a permit and a case against the club and band for overcrowding the club.
Quite correct.
But the physical evidence at hand--namely, one burned-to-the-ground nightclub--indicates that the inspector DID NOT INSPECT.
In short, he failed his legal and moral duty. Slap him as well as the band and the club.
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