Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility
Weather Alert
Increasing chance of rain this evening
Show Less
Close Alert

20 years later: 100 people killed, 230 others hurt in nation's 4th-largest nightclub fire


In this Feb. 20, 2003 file photo, firefighters spray water on to the charred nightclub, The Station, where 100 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured in West Warwick, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
In this Feb. 20, 2003 file photo, firefighters spray water on to the charred nightclub, The Station, where 100 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured in West Warwick, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

Monday marks 20 years since 100 people were killed and at least 230 others were hurt in the Station nightclub fire in a small Rhode Island city.

It was the fourth-deadliest fire at a nightclub in American history, and the second-deadliest in New England.

A Mass of Remembrance was held to honor the victims and survivors at St. Kevin Church in Warwick on Sunday morning.

Gina Russo, who was hurt in the fire, attended the mass. Her fiancé, Alfred "Freddy" Crisostomi, died that night.

Just before the fire, we had started talking about buying or building a house," Russo told The National Desk during a phone interview. "He had children and I had children, and luckily, everybody was getting along."

On Feb. 20, 2003, Russo and Crisostomi had dinner at Russo's mother's house. She and Crisostomi then planned to go see a movie.

But their plans changed at the last minute and they decided to go to the Station for a night of live music.

Russo never imagined Crisostomi would lose his life within a few hours.

He was just so much fun and optimistic," Russo said of Crisostomi. "I had never met anybody like him. If he had survived the fire, he would have been like, 'OK, now what do we do to fix it? This bad thing happened but what are we going to do about it?' He was just so larger than life."

The fire erupted shortly after the night's headlining band, Great White, took the stage at the club. Pyrotechnics sparked the blaze, igniting flammable packing foam that had been installed as soundproofing in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage.

Heavy black smoke quickly filled the club, with patrons rushing to the main exit.

Russo was among them. She doesn't remember the moments she was pulled from the fire.

I remember arguing with the bouncer at the fire door and then Fred and I tried to get to the main door because that was the only other one we knew of, and he was just pushing me and screaming, 'Go!'" she said. "When I made it to the front door, the bodies were already starting to pile up in the doorway. I remember saying, 'Let my kids forgive me for dying in this place.' I assumed I was going to die."

Russo suffered third-and fourth-degree burns. She's had well over 60 surgeries through the years and often undergoes physical therapy.

It's never-ending," she said of her burns. "My injuries were so bad. My lungs were giving out. My other organs were failing. I was read my last rights."

She was also in a coma. At the time, her sons, Alex and Nick, were just 9 and 6.

The were told their mom was probably not going to live," she said. "I think about that stuff and I'm like 'Oh, my God.'"

More than 130 people escaped the club uninjured but several developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

Russo said she experienced survivor's guilt for years. But she said those emotions began to fade in 2017 when the Station Fire Memorial Park was dedicated to those who died. With about $2 million raised to make the memorial a reality, it was built on the land where the nightclub stood in West Warwick.

For years, Russo advocated for the construction of the memorial.

If I don't live well and also pay it forward, then it was for nothing -- I shouldn't have lived," Russo said. "But I am so grateful."

Russo has continued to made a positive difference in the lives of others during the last two decades.

She also volunteers for the Phoenix Society For Burn Survivors' SOAR program, which connects survivors and loved ones with others who have experienced similar trauma, whether through their own burn injury or as the loved one of a burn survivor.

They need to see that they can live a pretty good life after," she said. "Sometimes, they're still in the hospital. Sometimes, they've just been discharged. We let them know we're here. We get you. We understand you. Everybody's story is different and it doesn't matter if it was self-inflicted or an accident. It's been an incredible part of my life."

Russo is also helping plan a motorcycle run, which is set for May 20, as well as a memorial service at the memorial site on May 21 at 1 p.m.

I want people to remember," Russo said. "Let's honor our 100.

Plus, she spreads the word about any events by so-called organizers who falsely claim to be raising funds for survivors.

"It's been troublesome," she said. "It's just unfortunate that people use this tragedy to make money. It doesn't even make sense to me."

She said she's called out Great White singer Jack Russell for holding alleged benefit shows.

"We've had to stop Jack Russell several times," she said. "He said he was fundraising for the Station and he was going to donate the money to us. Early on, he had gotten away with it. But when I came on board with the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, I was all set with that. If I would get wind that he was going to run fundraising for the Station, I immediately put a stop to it. He's never turned money over -- ever.”

The Mass of Remembrance, she said, honored families of victims and survivors, along with first responders, and past and present elected officials.

The Reverend Robert L. Marciano, who was at the scene of the fire and serves as the chaplain of the Warwick Police and Fire Departments, presided with the Most Reverend Richard Henning.

He prayed over the victims that were in the building," Russo said of Marciano. "He's just amazing."

The following is a list of the 100 people who died in the fire, including Crisostomi and Great White guitarist Ty Christopher Longley:

  • Louis S. Alves
  • Kevin Anderson
  • Stacie Jude Angers
  • Christopher G. Arruda
  • Eugene Avilez
  • Tina Ayer
  • Karla Jean Bagtaz
  • Mary H. Baker
  • Thomas A. Barnett
  • Laureen Beauchaine
  • Steven T. Blom
  • William C. Bonardi, III
  • Richard A. Cabral, Jr.
  • Kristine Carbone
  • William Cartwright
  • Edward Bradley Corbett, III
  • Michael Cordier
  • Alfred "Freddie" Crisostomi
  • Robert J. Croteau
  • Lisa D'Andrea
  • Matthew P. Darby
  • Dina Ann DeMaio
  • Albert DiBonaventura
  • Christina DiRienzo
  • Kevin J. Dunn
  • Lori K. Duarnte
  • Edward E. Ervanian, II
  • Thomas J. Fleming
  • Robert K. Florio-DiPietro
  • Mark Adam Fontaine
  • Daniel J. Fredrickson
  • Michael A. Fresolo
  • James C. Gahan, IV
  • Melvin A. Gerfin, Jr.
  • Laura L. Gillett
  • Charline Gingras-Fick
  • James F. Gooden, Jr.
  • Michael J. Gonsalves
  • Derek J. Gray
  • Scott C. Greene
  • Pam A. Gruttadauria
  • Scott Griffith
  • Bonnie L. Hamelin
  • Jude Henault
  • Andrew Hoban
  • Abbie Hoisington
  • Sandy L. Hoogasian
  • Michael B. Hoogasian
  • Carlton "Bud" Howorth
  • Eric J. Hyer
  • Derek B. Johnson
  • Lisa Jean Kelly
  • Tracy F. King
  • Michael J. Kulz
  • Keith Lapierre
  • Dale Latulippe
  • Stephen Matthew Libera
  • John Michael Longiaru
  • Ty Christopher Longley
  • Andrea Jacavone Mancini
  • Steven Mancini
  • Keith A. Mancini
  • Judith I. Manzo
  • Thomas F. Marion, Jr.
  • Jeffrey W. Martin
  • Tammy Mattera-Housa
  • Thomas P. Medeiros
  • Kristen McQuarrie
  • Samuel A. Miceli, Jr.
  • Donna M. Mitchell
  • Leigh Ann Moreau
  • Ryan M. Morin
  • Jason R. Mortin
  • Beth Ann Mosczynski
  • Katherine O'Donnell
  • Nicholas P. O'Neill
  • Matthew J. Pickett
  • Carlos L. Pimental, Sr.
  • Christopher K. Prouty
  • Jeffrey S. Rader
  • Theresa Rakoski
  • Robert Reisner, III
  • Walter Rich
  • Donald P. Roderiques
  • Tracey Romanoff
  • Joseph Rossi
  • Bridget Marie Sanetti
  • Rebecca Shaw
  • Mitchell C. Shubert
  • Dennis Smith
  • Victor Stark
  • Benjamin J. Suffoletto, Jr.
  • Linda D. Suffoletto
  • Shawn Patrick Sweet
  • Jason Robert Sylvester
  • Sarah Jane Telgarsky
  • Kelly Lynne Viera
  • Kevin R. Washburn
  • Everett "Tommy" Woodmansee
  • Robert D. Young

Three people were charged in connection to the fire. They include Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, a pair of brother's who owned the club, and the band’s tour manager, Daniel Biechele, who lit the pyrotechnics.

There was never a trial, as the Derderian brothers pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Michael served nearly three years behind bars, while Jeffrey was placed on probation for three years and was ordered to serve 500 hours of community service.

Michael was in Florida at the time of the fire, while Jeffrey was there that night.

During an interview with "48 Hours" in 2021, Michael said he could hardly understand what his brother was trying to tell him when he received a call from him the night of the fire.

Through the years, fire officials have said overcrowding contributed to the deaths, but the brothers claimed the club was not at capacity.

Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. He served 12 months of a four-year sentence.

Russo said she hopes to someday speak with Biechele.

I would love to sit down with him,” she said. "He just needs to know that he's forgiven -- at least by me. He's just so genuine. He mailed letters to every victim's family member. Because I was sort of representing Fred at the time, the letter came to my house. It was just so detailed about Fred and Fred's children and Fred loving the New York Yankees. Obviously, he read newspaper articles, but he read them and that meant a lot to me. It wasn't just some standard letter that he just signed and mailed out to everybody. That meant a lot to me. Maybe someday our paths might cross."

Since the fire, Russo has gotten married. She and her husband, Steven Sherman, live in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Her sons are now 29 and 26. Both were recently married and she is a proud grandmother.

I got lucky," she said. "I have two incredible sons and two beautiful daughter-in-laws and a great-grandson. I'm so grateful."

Learn more about the Station Fire Memorial Foundation at thestationfirememorialfoundation.org.

Loading ...