Remembering the victims of The Station Fire - A Decade Later

[JRNYMAN]

Hard to fathom it's been 10 years since the nightclub fire at The Station in Rhode Island claimed the lives of 100 people. As you go about your hustle and bustle lives today, find a moment to remember those affected by this tragedy. The images that surfaced of the carnage and absolute human suffering still affect me to this day. So incredibly sad and so easily preventable and yet identical situations are still repeating themsleves around the globe to this day as evidenced by the recent similar fire in Brazil.

God bless the victims.

[maverick218]

+1
Terrible tragedy. I watched the youtube video that someone on here had posted a link to a few weeks ago- just chilling.

[Liam]

10 years SERIOUSLY? Wow...R*I*P.

[scarygirl]

+1
Terrible tragedy. I watched the youtube video that someone on here had posted a link to a few weeks ago- just chilling.

I in the midst of lunch at a local restaurant when I heard. So unbelievable. All those poor people. I count the then band members of Great White too. There were just so many pieces to that awful puzzle, and I feel they got stuck the hardest.

[JRNYMAN]

+1
Terrible tragedy. I watched the youtube video that someone on here had posted a link to a few weeks ago- just chilling.

That was me and to tell you the truth, I was hesitant to post the video due to graphic nature of the images it contained - especially the video of the melee at the entrance/exit which shows the stack of people piled on top of each other in full panic mode attempting to get out of the building and the screams.... just chilling and makes the tragedy just that much more real. So, so sad.

The Station Nightclub Fire complete amateur video of the event as it happened starting with the fireworks display which started the whole train a rolling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo

[scarygirl]

+1
Terrible tragedy. I watched the youtube video that someone on here had posted a link to a few weeks ago- just chilling.

That was me and to tell you the truth, I was hesitant to post the video due to graphic nature of the images it contained - especially the video of the melee at the entrance/exit which shows the stack of people piled on top of each other in full panic mode attempting to get out of the building and the screams.... just chilling and makes the tragedy just that much more real. So, so sad.

The Station Nightclub Fire complete amateur video of the event as it happened starting with the fireworks display which started the whole train a rolling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo

This is going to sound awful, but I have watched that video more than once. Many times in fact. Reason being is I couldn't believe the scenes I was seeing and hearing. Like maybe if I watched it again, it would all be different; Superman would swoop in and save the day. Same thing with some of those posted 9-11 videos of real victims fighting for their lives til they weren't anymore.

Sad, sad, sad. Just when you think this country has had enough, no, we get kicked a little harder.

[JRNYMAN]

+1
Terrible tragedy. I watched the youtube video that someone on here had posted a link to a few weeks ago- just chilling.

That was me and to tell you the truth, I was hesitant to post the video due to graphic nature of the images it contained - especially the video of the melee at the entrance/exit which shows the stack of people piled on top of each other in full panic mode attempting to get out of the building and the screams.... just chilling and makes the tragedy just that much more real. So, so sad.

The Station Nightclub Fire complete amateur video of the event as it happened starting with the fireworks display which started the whole train a rolling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo

This is going to sound awful, but I have watched that video more than once. Many times in fact. Reason being is I couldn't believe the scenes I was seeing and hearing. Like maybe if I watched it again, it would all be different; Superman would swoop in and save the day. Same thing with some of those posted 9-11 videos of real victims fighting for their lives til they weren't anymore.

Sad, sad, sad. Just when you think this country has had enough, no, we get kicked a little harder.

Doesn't sound weird at all. I've watched it probably somewhere around 20 times or more and it seems like every time I do, I find something I hadn't seen previously. There is a lot, and I mean A LOT of graphical horror present in this video. Fortunately, most of it doesn't leap off the screen and point itself out to you. Numerous images of people on fire. A few fairly clear shots of "the stack" fully ablaze. The first couple of times I watched the entire thing, I broke down and cried as the sounds of people's last words, yells for help, pleas to God were audible and knowing that what I was hearing were the last words those poor people would ever say. It's one of the most haunting and disturbing pieces of photo-journalism I've ever watched - and I've seen some shit I'll never admit to seeing and some shit no one should ever see! Knowing that everything in that video was 100% real and that the end of people's lives were playing themselves out at that very moment makes the video that much more ominous and deeply haunting.

[AR]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

[JRNYMAN]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

[AR]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

[JRNYMAN]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

Wow! Such an incredibly sad story all the way around. What's even more heartbreaking is the vicious anger and hate that continues to be cast at the band's members - especially at Jack. I posted an article a few weeks ago that talked about the community's desire to have any mention or association with Russell removed from any and all fund raisers/memorials. I've followed this story and the associated events, publications, etc. since it happened and I whole-heartedly believe that NO-ONE is more remorseful and personally affected than Jack Russell. The demons he has struggled with and the immense guilt he has had to endure - whether justified or not - has really take its toll on him. Quite frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't killed himself over this. But then to have the community still harbor so much hate and anger toward him and specifically name him as someone they don't want nor will they accept assistance from.... that's just wrong at the highest level!

[JRNYMAN]

One of the things about the video that's very disturbing is the amount of time that took place between when it caught fire and the first hose began shooting water. For those who haven't watched the video, the news cameraman who shot the footage has included a real-time timer to illustrate the speed at which the building became fully involved. Unfortunately, it also highlights just how much time elapsed before you even hear the first sirens arriving. And even after the first truck is on scene, they had a hard time maneuvering close enough due to the front entrance access being blocked by vehicles, people, etc. Perhaps the best indicator of fast the fire progressed and how little time anyone had to navigate around inside the building is at 4:30 on the timer when he has gone around to one of the side doors and yells out to see if anyone inside could hear him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... xeo#t=295s
The dense, black smoke has totally consumed every square inch of space from ceiling to about 12" above the floor with flames occupying that area12" space. It took me longer to type this reply than those people had from the time they realized they needed to exit the building and when they could no longer breathe, let alone try and navigate their way to safety.

[slucero]

I get "why" they blame Jack Russell.... even though it makes no sense... he had nothing to do with what caused the fire.


That they hate Russell more than the morons who:

• owned the club and
• lined it with highly flammable materials, and
• allowed pyro without permits (GW wasn't the only band to have used pyro there)

...makes even less sense

[JRNYMAN]

I get "why" they blame Jack Russell.... even though it makes no sense... he had nothing to do with what caused the fire.


That they hate Russell more than the morons who:

• owned the club and
• lined it with highly flammable materials, and
• allowed pyro without permits (GW wasn't the only band to have used pyro there)

...makes even less sense

Totally agree Slucie. Apparently they need someone to be the target of their anger and grief and since Jack is the most high profile individual associated with the event, why not hang their blame on him? Like hanging their blame on anyone is going to help them heal or move on. Doing so shows their refusal to forgive which will never allow them to find peace.

[G.I.Jim]

That video was extremely hard to watch. I just can't fathom the feeling that they experienced as the ones who got out had to watch their friends and family members burn to death in that fire trap. One of the saddest days in America. And I agree... it's not Jack's fault. I can completely understand why he has the addiction problems he has, and honestly I'm surprised he hasn't tried to take his own life. We all know he wasn't directly responsible, but I'm sure he doesn't feel that way when he looks in the mirror each day. He probably feels a LOT of responsibility for what happened and that would be extremely hard to live with. I definitely feel for him.

[The Sushi Hunter]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

That's seriously f'd up. Why is it that the guy looks so "not concerned" about the fire and that he's in there?

[scarygirl]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

That's seriously f'd up. Why is it that the guy looks so "not concerned" about the fire and that he's in there?

Shock mixed with alcohol. It is said in plane crashes that it isn't crash that kills people, it the fire right after. I have heard stories of people frozen in place while their friends high tailed on out of there. The first minute after a plane crash is literally life or death.

[The Sushi Hunter]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

That's seriously f'd up. Why is it that the guy looks so "not concerned" about the fire and that he's in there?

Shock mixed with alcohol. It is said in plane crashes that it isn't crash that kills people, it the fire right after. I have heard stories of people frozen in place while their friends high tailed on out of there. The first minute after a plane crash is literally life or death.

Yeah, I could see that being a serious factor.

[JRNYMAN]

This is the last known photo from inside The Station that night. The stage is already well engulfed in flames. The guy in the photo (Jeff Rader) did not make it out.

Chilling! Was he just a patron or was he associated with the band or a bar employee?

He was a roadie for Great White, but had the night off and was just there watching the show with his girlfriend. She didn't make it out either.

http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/ange ... jrader.htm

That's seriously f'd up. Why is it that the guy looks so "not concerned" about the fire and that he's in there?

Shock mixed with alcohol. It is said in plane crashes that it isn't crash that kills people, it the fire right after. I have heard stories of people frozen in place while their friends high tailed on out of there. The first minute after a plane crash is literally life or death.

Yeah, I could see that being a serious factor.

Perhaps the saddest bit of info to add to the guy's (Jeff Rader pictured above) story is that he actually made it out safely but went back in to find his girlfriend and as AR noted above, neither lived.

That video was extremely hard to watch. I just can't fathom the feeling that they experienced as the ones who got out had to watch their friends and family members burn to death in that fire trap. One of the saddest days in America. And I agree... it's not Jack's fault. I can completely understand why he has the addiction problems he has, and honestly I'm surprised he hasn't tried to take his own life. We all know he wasn't directly responsible, but I'm sure he doesn't feel that way when he looks in the mirror each day. He probably feels a LOT of responsibility for what happened and that would be extremely hard to live with. I definitely feel for him.

You always hear that people who died in a structure fire always die from the smoke inhalation long before the flames get to you, and maybe that's the case most of the time but, in this case, the fire spread so incredibly fast that I'm not sure there was time to succumb to the smoke before..... I honestly couldn't bring myself to write what was obviously the rest of that sentence.