Killer Show

by John Barylick

  79 Nine days after the fire, Donna Cormier reviewed Witness statement of Donna Cormier, March 1, 2003, pp. 10–12; grand jury testimony of Donna Cormier, July 21, 2003, pp. 36–38 (identifying “shaved-headed” man in Davidson “Boston Herald photo” as bouncer who tried to turn her family away); witness statement of John Arpin, March 3, 2003, lines 96–98 (identifying himself as the man “with the bald head” in Davidson “Boston Herald photo”).

  79 According to the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General “The Station Fire—List of People inside Building at Time of Fire,” Rhode Island Department of Attorney General; witness statement of John Lynch, February 28, 2003, p. 16, line 17.

  79 At least one person chose not to use the stage exit Witness statement of William Long, February 28, 2003; Mike McAndrew, “CNY Native Barely Escaped Deadly R.I. Nightclub Fire,” Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard, March 9, 2003.

  79–80 Linda Fisher didn’t work for Great White Witness statement of Linda Fisher, November 6, 2003; witness statement of Mark Knott, February 28, 2003; Tom Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Open Gates of Hell,” Providence Journal, April 13, 2003.

  80 Bill Long was somehow pulled Witness statement of William Long; McAndrew, “CNY Native Barely Escaped Deadly R.I. Nightclub Fire.”

  80–81 Rob Feeney and Donna Mitchell had not been given Witness statements of Robert P. Feeney, March 11 and April 7, 2006; Barnes, “Survivor Is Coping with Loss, Injury.”

  81 He later identified Scott Vieira Witness statement of Robert P. Feeney, April 7, 2006. According to his witness statement, after getting out of the hospital, Feeney searched the Internet and came upon pictures of the Station Fire. He located a picture that had been published by Rolling Stone magazine. It was one of the Davidson photographs depicting an employee smoking a cigarette, wearing a black T-shirt marked “Event Security,” standing near the stage door. Feeney positively identified this man as the person who had placed his hand on Donna Mitchell’s shoulder and instructed her to use the front door. Feeney’s statement recites that he later came to learn the identity of this male as Scott Vieira. He was shown Station Fire Davidson photograph 22003.032jpb (the photo that had been published in Rolling Stone) by Detective Roland Coutu, and Feeney again confirmed that this was the photo he had located on the Internet and that the person in the black T-shirt in the foreground was the person who told Donna she had to use the front door. Also, captioned Davidson photo appearing in “Rock Band Great White Offers $1 Million to Settle Fatal Nightclub Fire Suits,” by Eric Tucker, Associated Press, in the Western Star, September 2, 2008, Canadian Press, identifying Scott Vieira as the cigarette-smoking bouncer. Also, in a witness statement taken from John Arpin on February 28, 2003, Q. 92–108, Arpin identified the cigarette-smoking bouncer wearing the Station T-shirt in the Davidson Rolling Stone photograph as Scott Vieira.

  81 Gina Russo needed no photographs Gina Russo with Paul Lonardo, From the Ashes (West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity Publishing, 2010), 137.

  81 Other survivors reported See, e.g., witness statement of John Gibbs, March 1, 2003.

  81 The cheerful giant, who once balanced a canoe Memorial Biography of Tracy King, Providence Journal, March 20, 2003.

  13. FIGHTING FOR AIR

  82 “Fire is an exothermic oxidation reaction John D. DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 5th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentiss-Hall, 2002), 21.

  82 “self-sustaining chain reaction requiring combustible fuel Ibid.

  82 Fire requires about a 16 percent concentration Ibid., p. 24.

  82 We require 12 percent D. A. Purser, “Toxicity Assessment of Combustion Products,” in Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rd ed., ed. P. J. DiNenno (Bethesda, MD: SFPA, 2002).

  82 Room air has only 21 percent DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 23.

  83 Fire can be defeated in the battle John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, Department of Protection Management, Division of Fire Science Course Materials, Introduction to Fire Science, Section 2, Unit 1, Fire Behavior (Flannery Associates, 2002).

  83 Few of us realize, however DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 22.

  83 Wax melts, undergoes pyrolysis Ibid., p. 26.

  83 The process was aided by the low-density “Report of the Technical Investigation of the Station Nightclub Fire” (hereafter, NIST Report), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, §4.3.

  83 Heat can be transferred in three ways DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 33.

  83 Conduction is the transfer Ibid., 34.

  83 Convection is the transfer Ibid., 35.

  83–84 The third method of heat transfer Ibid., 36.

  84 Because hydrogen is found in almost all fuels Ibid., 41.

  84–85 In addition to the water vapor … ten to fifteen feet per second Ibid.

  85 Karen Gordon and her husband Witness statement of Karen Gordon, February 26, 2003.

  85 When this layer reaches a critical temperature DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 42.

  85–86 Computer modeling and full-scale testing NIST Report, p. 5–41.

  86 Sometimes a room fire will consume too much available DeHaan, Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 43.

  86 Where the video focuses back on the front doors Brian Butler videotape, February 20, 2003.

  86 As to temperature, it is generally believed Purser, “Toxicity Assessment,” 2–106, 2–125, 2–127.

  86 As the NIST investigation generally concluded NIST Report.

  86 According to the NIST models Ibid., figs. 5–55a and 5–61a.

  86–87 While temperatures five feet off the floor in the main bar area Ibid., fig. 5–55a.

  87 Sure enough, the Butler video Brian Butler videotape.

  87 Once the superheated gas layer Linda Fisher, in discussion with the author, July 7, 2011.

  87 In addition to keeping temperatures survivable NIST Report, p. 5–56, figs. 5–62a, b.

  87 The NIST report concluded Ibid., p. 5–45, figs. 5–57a, b.

  14. A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE IN HELL

  88–89 On the evening of the Great White concert Witness statement of Shamus D. Horan, February 25, 2003; Shamus Horan, in discussion with the author, July 15, 2011.

  89 As seen on Butler’s video Brian Butler videotape, February 20, 2003.

  89 Consistent with the reconstruction NIST Report, p. 5–42.

  89 Driven back by flames and smoke Witness statement of Shamus Horan; Shamus Horan discussion with author.

  89–91 Gary Beineke and his wife, Pam … with singed hair and scraped limbs Grand jury testimony of Gary Beineke, October 29, 2003; witness statement of Pamela Beineke, March 11, 2003; grand jury testimony of Paul Vanner, May 7, 2003.

  91 One beneficiary was Stephanie Simpson Witness statement of Stephanie Simpson, March 8, 2003; Michael Corkery and Paul Edward Parker, “Life and Death,” Providence Journal, December 21, 2003.

  91 Another person who escaped through a window Witness statement of Katherine Randall, February 21, 2003.

  91–92 Mike Ricardi, a nineteen-year-old Witness statement of Michael Ricardi, February 25, 2003; Ellen Barry and Rahja Mishra, “Tragedy in Rhode Island; Music, Then Disaster,” Boston Globe, February 22, 2003; Laurel J. Sweet and Tom Farmer, “Nightclub Nightmare: Fate Brought Fire Victims Together for Show,” Boston Herald, February 26, 2003.

  92 The Denny’s breakfast gang Witness statements of Richard Sanetti, March 1 and April 10, 2003.

  92 At 11:17 p.m. a West Warwick police dispatcher Witness statement of Captain Gregory L. Johnson, West Warwick Police Department, March 1, 2003, p. 2, line 1.

  92 According to the NIST computer simulations NIST Report, figs. 5–55a, 5–61a.

  92 Long after the fire, when Richard Sanetti Corkery and Parker, “Life and Death.”

  92–93 Back at the front windows of the bar Witness statements of Richard Sanetti.

  93–94 Besides the
three HJY interns … where the bar door was located Grand jury testimony of Jennifer Choquette, May 19, 2003.

  94 John Arpin and Paul Vanner were somehow Witness statements of John R. Arpin, February 21 and 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of Paul Vanner, May 7, 2003.

  94 Scooter Stone made it from the light board Witness statements of David M. Stone, February 20, 2003, and February 22, 2003; witness statement of Julie Mellini, February 23, 2003.

  94 Using the kitchen door Grand jury testimony of Paul Vanner.

  94 Shot girl Rena Gershelis wondered Witness statement of Irina M. Gershelis, February 25, 2003.

  94–95 Julie Mellini would not have left Witness statement of Julie Mellini, February 23, 2003; Corkery and Parker, “Life and Death”; Lynn Arditi, “The Station Nightclub Disaster—3 at the Station Paid off the Books,” Providence Journal, March 14, 2003.

  95 One nonemployee who found his way Witness statement of Stephen Eldridge, February 21, 2003.

  95–96 A few patrons escaped despite an initial period Witness statement of Harold Panciera, July 9, 2003; transcript of CNN interview with Harold Panciera, February 22, 2003; Corkery and Parker, “Life and Death”; Harold Panciera, in discussion with the author, July 29, 2011.

  96 Brian Butler’s video from outside Brian Butler videotape.

  96 Panciera never learned the identity Harold Panciera discussion with author.

  15. THE WAY OF ALL FLESH

  97 The anonymous Station fire victim Brian Butler videotape, February 20, 2003.

  97 Had land mammals, including humans Robert L. Sheridan, “Thermal Injuries” (chap. 94), in Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th ed., ed. Klauss Wolff et al. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008).

  97–98 And skin was an extraordinary evolutionary development David H. Chu, “Development and Structure of Skin” (chap. 7), in Klauss Wolff et al., Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology.

  98–99 When skin is burned Richard F. Edlich and John C. Moghtader, “Thermal Burns” (chap. 53), in Emergency Medicine, Concepts and Clinical Practice, 4th ed., ed. Peter Rosen (St. Louis: C. V. Mosby Co., 1998).

  99 Prior to Boston’s 1942 Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire John C. Esposito, Fire in the Grove (Boston, Da Capo Press, 2005), 145–55.

  99 Human skin is pretty tough stuff Edlich and Moghtader, “Thermal Burns.”

  99–100 For example, a patron of The Station NIST Report, pt. 1, fig. 5–55a; Edlich and Moghtader, “Thermal Burns,” fig. 53–2.

  100 Depth of burns is categorized by degrees Ibid.; Sheridan, “Thermal Injuries.”

  100–101 Because different areas of the skin Edlich and Moghtader, “Thermal Burns.”

  101 Reports of fire injuries commonly speak of “smoke inhalation” Jacob S. Loke, “Thermal Lung Injury and Acute Smoke Inhalation” (chap. 65), in Fishman’s Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders, 3rd ed., vol. 1, ed. Alfred P. Fishman (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998).

  101 When Station patrons like Stephanie Simpson Witness statement of Stephanie Simpson, March 8, 2003; witness statement of Katherine Randall, February 21, 2003.

  102 According to the NIST computer simulations NIST Report, pt. 1, fig. 5–61a.

  102 With serious burns comes the possibility of fatal insult to circulation Colleen Ryan, in discussion with the author, January 20, 1995; Edlich and Moghtader, “Thermal Burns,” 948.

  16. DOMINO THEORY

  103 Erin Pucino, the Derderians’ gas station clerk Pietra (née Erin) Pucino, in discussion with the author, July 7, 2011; Ellen Barry, Raja Mishra, and Globe staff, “Tragedy in Rhode Island: Music, Then Disaster,” Boston Globe, February 22, 2003; witness statement of Erin Pucino, February 23, 2003.

  103 One young woman within the stack Grand jury testimony of Elizabeth Laposata, July 14, 2003, pp. 74–75.

  104 From outside the front doors, the situation Witness statement of Patrolman Mark Knott, February 28, 2003.

  104 Skott Greene, the genial proprietor of Michael Corkery and Paul Edward Parker, “Life and Death,” Providence Journal, December 21, 2003.

  104 Among those near the front doorway Witness statement of John Fairbairn, February 22, 2003; witness statement of Andrea Fairbairn, February 26, 2003.

  104–5 Outside the scrum, Patrolman Bettencourt Witness statement of Patrolman Anthony Bettencourt, February 26, 2003; grand jury testimony of Anthony Bettencourt, June 9, 2003; Tom Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Open Gates of Hell,” Providence Journal, April 13, 2003.

  105 One would-be rescuer was Jason Nadeau Witness statement of Jason Nadeau, March 26, 2003; Corkery and Parker, “Life and Death.”

  105 Robert Cripe, a truck driver from West Warwick Witness statements of Robert Cripe, February 21 and 25, 2003; Corkery and Parker, “Life and Death.”

  105 When Patrolman Knott heard kicking Witness statement of Patrolman Mark Knott.

  105–6 Robert Riffe had been in the crush Witness statement of Robert Riffe, February 22, 2003; Robert Riffe, “A First-Person Account from a Survivor,” projo.com, February 24, 2003; witness statement of Christopher Scott, September 25, 2003.

  106 Patrolman Knott saw that no Witness statement of Patrolman Mark Knott.

  106–7 Elizabeth Arruda had come to The Station Witness statement of Elizabeth A. Arruda, February 23, 2003.

  107 Several survivors who escaped the crush NIST Report, pt. 1, p. 6–4.

  107–8 Erin Pucino was still trapped in the pileup Pietra (née Erin) Pucino, discussion with author; Barry, Mishra, and Globe staff, “Tragedy in Rhode Island”; witness statement of Erin Pucino, February 23, 2003.

  108 Late-arriving Gina Gauvin had made it Witness statement of Gina Gauvin, October 17, 2003; Ally Donnelly, “One Woman’s Survival Story of the Station Nightclub Fire,” New England Cable News, NECN.com, February 20, 2008.

  108 Once Erin Pucino regained feeling in her legs Pietra (née Erin) Pucino, discussion with author; Barry, Mishra, and Globe staff, “Tragedy in Rhode Island”; witness statement of Erin Pucino.

  17. THE SOUND AND THE FURY

  109 “Oh, My God Brian Butler videotape, February 20, 2003.

  109 Sixty-four children under the age of eighteen Third Amended Master Complaint in Gray v. Derderian et al., CA No. 04–312-L, USDC–RI.

  109–10 Joe Cristina and Matthew Pickett came Witness statements of Joseph Cristina, April 29 and May 1, 2003; Katherine Boas, Memorial Biography of Matthew Pickett, Providence Journal, March 20, 2003; witness statement of Joseph Pickett, February 13, 2004.

  110 They contained Matthew’s personal effects Personal effects inventory for Matthew Pickett, Rhode Island State Medical Examiner, February 23, 2003.

  110 credit cards, heat-fused into a ball of plastic Witness statement of Dennis Dunham, September 19, 2005.

  110 at the left edge of the frame, Matthew Pickett’s striped sweater sleeve Ibid.

  111 His name was Jeff Rader Duane Serfass, in discussion with the author, June 9, 2009. (Serfass, a close friend of Rader’s, identified Rader as the man in the photo, pointing out the “Tesla” logo on Rader’s shirt that he and Rader had jointly designed.)

  111 Rader, thirty-two, lived with his mother S. I. Rosenbaum, Memorial Biography of Jeffrey Rader, Providence Journal, March 20, 2003.

  111 During his visit in February 2003 Witness statement of John Kubus, February 26, 2003.

  112 the naïveté described by Professor Proulx Guylene Proulx, in discussion with the author, August 29, 2008.

  112–13 When Detective Roland Coutu Memorandum to Detective Roland Coutu, West Warwick Police Department, from ATF Audio/Video Forensic Specialist Steve Greene, May 11, 2005 (transcription of notes from November 11, 2004, through January 28, 2005, for Case No. 762070–03–0056).

  113–14 Pickett’s tape begins with fifteen minutes Matthew Pickett audiotape, February 20, 2003.

  114 Disaster sociologist Lee Clarke notes Lee Clarke, “Panic: Myth or Reality,” Contexts (American Sociological Association, University of California Press), vol. 1, no. 3 (Fall 2002): 21–2
6.

  114–15 While Matthew Pickett’s recorder was memorializing Brian Butler videotape.

  18. INTO THE BREACH

  116–17 Nearly an hour after hose streams Witness statement of Raul Vargas, February 22, 2003; grand jury testimony of Raul Vargas, October 29, 2003; Cathleen F. Crowley, “A Survivor’s Story: Saved by a Pileup,” Providence Journal, March 10, 2003.

  117 Lieutenant Roger St. Jean was a Witness statement of Roger St. Jean, March 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of Roger St. Jean, July 16, 2003; witness statement of Aaron Perkins, March 14, 2003; Tom Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Open Gates of Hell,” Providence Journal, April 13, 2003.

  117–18 Each station had a pumper truck Titan Report, A-1.

  118 At one point, St. Jean turned Witness statement of Patrolman Mark Knott, February 28, 2003, p. 16.

  118 Under standard firefighting protocol Titan Report, A-12.

  118 This was accomplished by Fire Captain Kevin Sullivan Ibid.

  118–19 Engines and ladder trucks from other West Warwick stations Ibid., A-12–14, fig. A-6.

  119 Two three-inch supply lines Ibid., A-11.

  119 Then, one Cranston fire company mistakenly laid Ibid.

  119 West Warwick’s Special Hazards Unit Ibid. A-16.

  119 About thirty minutes into the firefighting Ibid.

  119 West Warwick Engine 1 laid three hundred feet Ibid., A-12.

  119–20 Detectives Gary Appolonia and Brian Araujo Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Open Gates of Hell.”

  120 Patrolman Jason Senerchia approached The Station Ibid.

  120 As a result, policemen Bettencourt and Knott Witness statement of Mark Knott, February 28, 2003, p. 17; witness statement of Patrolman Anthony Bettencourt, February 26, 2003; witness statement of Captain Gregory Johnson, March 1, 2003.

  120 Patrolman Stephen Vannini was among Witness statement of Patrolman Stephen Vannini, February 21, 2003; Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Gates of Hell.”