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.

[Spirited]

Thank you, Jeff. "Forewarned is forearmed."

[Jeff Head]

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.

Absolutely ... as would such awareness tend to save any individual in such circumnstances ... or nation.

[Travis McGee]

(From your linked account)

Jamie Conway of Pembroke says he was perhaps 10 seconds away from death when someone pulled him from the stack of people stuck in the doorway of a burning Rhode Island nightclub.

‘‘After the guy pulled me out, within 10 or 20 seconds everybody who had been stuck in that doorway was engulfed in flames. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen in my life,'' Conway said.

Arthur J. Conway III, better known as Jamie, was at The Station last night with his friend and neighbor, Kris Somers. Somers, like Conway, escaped the blaze safely. They were about 30 feet from the door when the fire broke out. ‘‘I didn't think anything about it. I waited maybe half a minute, and people started yelling ‘Door! Door!''' said Conway, who is 28. ‘‘Kris was about five feet in front of me. I stated getting pushed toward the door,'' Conway said. ‘‘After about a minute, the lights went out. I could not see anything. We stuck against the walls.''

He worked his way to a door. ‘‘I got caught in the doorway. Four or five people were stacked below me. I was in a horizontal position,'' Conway said. ‘‘There were people on top of me. I could feel myself starting to burn, felt my feet and right hand burning. ‘‘It was the most unbelievable heat I have ever felt. Like when you open an oven door, times 20,'' he said. ‘‘No matter how I wiggled I couldn't do anything. I was completely helpless,'' he said.

Then, a man outside grabbed Conway's arms and began to pull. ‘‘He yanked on me for about 30 seconds, both arms. Then he stopped because he could not get me out,'' Conway said. About a minute later, the man returned and pulled again. ‘‘I just kept reaching my hands to him, and I finally broke free,'' Conway said.

Seconds later, people in the doorway became engulfed in flames.

Conway said that his face, right ear and right hand are burned. He was admitted at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, where he was recovering today.

[MississippiMan]

Will we continue to allow the danger to grow both there abroad and right here at home through pourous borders, allowing most of production to be unwisely shipped off-shore and either remaining ignorant to what we face or ignoring it?

Jeff, while I agree with your analogy, I fear the real prognosis for our country as a whole, is not much better than it was for that nightclub as a whole. We can try to help those around us, but when it comes to making the masses believe, it's just not working. The masses aren't going to believe until it's too late. Sad but that's the way I see it. Someone in another thread likened us to the old frogs in the pot of water that's gradually heating up and I see absolutely nothing to make me think he's wrong. We can keep trying, though.

MM

[Travis McGee]

We can only hope that the FBI is onto the organized cells.

The singletons will be much harder to predict or stop.

[wolficatZ]

Definitely a LONG hallway leading from the main floor to the main exit.If you don't believe George Dionne's account, why don't you write him and dispute his account, he seems to have posted on several rock pages and written several reviews, along with his email address, if it is the same George Dionne.
cuffs191@attbi.com

[harpseal]

Fire is a hazard we are all subject to in evry building we enter. I have made it ahbit to have a flashlight on my keychains. Almost twenty years ago I was on the 19th floor of a building that had a fire in the emergency lighting system. I did not have a flashlight and as it was very late in the day the floor fire warden was not there and his desk was locked. At the time I was a smoker and the xippo lighter I had in my pocket was what got the five of us on the floor down eight flights of stairs with no other light until we met firemen coming up the stairs who lit out way down.

I learned my lesson that day. I always check for emergency exits and ways of getting out any building I am in. I also learned when traveling on business it is a good idea when the fire alarm goes off in your hotel in the middle of thenight grab your keyon the way out otherwise you might have a ong wait for the hotel staff to get you a second key or let you back in your room. If it is winter keep something warm to put on for whenyou are outside.

[Travis McGee]

May we at least lead our own families to safe exits.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly. Rule number one was a big part of my meaning in post number 48.

Having had 4 kids now get into and beyond their late teens now ... I look at those sad young souls there at the front door and can't help but think of my own and thank God that none of them are so inclined to frequent those places, at least not at this point.

But my heart and prayers go out for each and every one. So young, so unaware of what was bareling down on them. It just hurts to think about ... but the lesson must be passed on.

[xzins]

Checked your web site. Thanks.

Any update on the osama/mahdi idea? It's sort of a messiah, isn't it?

[He Rides A White Horse]

I have a better idea. You should read my post again, because you obviously misunderstood the point. I believe the account. As far as the 500-700 feet is concerned, I have a feeling that it was meant to say 50-70 feet.

[Jeff Head]

the masses aren't going to believe until it's too late. Sad but that's the way I see it. Someone in another thread likened us to the old frogs in the pot of water that's gradually heating up and I see absolutely nothing to make me think he's wrong. We can keep trying, though.

I tend to agree .. but like you, will also keep trying. At the very least, our efforts and warnings will awaken many much quicker to a sense of what they must do at a later time when they are individually brought to those compelling circumstances ... and perhaps that precious time will be enough to save them ... and us all in an hour of future need.

It is what we must hope for and continue to push towards IMHO.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Teach all our children that they must never underestimate the stupidity of anyone and the dangers of everywhere.

Our plastics filled modern world is full of potential smoky cyanides and other poisons.

For every building/room entered, one should note all exits and inspect them to confirm that they are not chained, locked, or blocked. Have a plan to exit quickly and have a good time, near an exit. If in doubt, leave.

As terrorists begin to target us, we must be proactive. Real life is tough enough.

The nanny state will not protect.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

All very important. Of course, it must be mentioned that it is highly likely that many of the audience had probably consumed at least a little alcohol at that point,and probably more than a few had consumed quite a lot. Alcohol is notorious for slowing one's reaction time, and in the case of many of the people there, that slowed reaction time probably proved to be fatal. It is hard enough for even completely sober people -- without very intensive specialized training -- to react immediately to that type of situation and immediately make the right decision. Minds and senses dulled by alcohol slowed reaction times down for most of the people far too much.

I'm not saying here that nobody should ever drink alcohol under any circumstances. I am just suggesting that taking a very hard, "worst case scenario" look at one's circumstances before one even starts drinking would be very wise.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks Trav for posting that other account. Another very graphic and terrible eye-witness acoount.

I pray we take the lesson, individually and as a society.

[MississippiMan]

May we at least lead our own families to safe exits.

Amen to that, Travis.

MM

[Jeff Head]

I have no update on the theory as it applies in real life to Bin Laden and some of the radical Islamists belief in him ... but I think we will all witness it being proved false.

In my series that particular fictional scenario is progressing towards the end of Volume III in the series.

[Balata]

Here is a link thats been going around and all should see.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/escape/pioneers.html

[Travis McGee]

Booze, a little weed or ecstacy perhaps, and don't forget the effects of ear-bleedingly loud rock amplifers. You probably couldn't have heard a screamed warning when it might have helped.

[Jeff Head]

Alcohol is notorious for slowing one's reaction time, and in the case of many of the people there, that slowed reaction time probably proved to be fatal. It is hard enough for even completely sober people -- without very intensive specialized training -- to react immediately to that type of situation and immediately make the right decision. Minds and senses dulled by alcohol slowed reaction times down for most of the people far too much.

You are spot on here.