A Night That Changed West Warwick
On the evening of Feb. 20, 2003, a fire broke out at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and injuring more than 230 others during a concert by Great White. It remains one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history.
Shortly after 11 p.m., the band began playing its opening song, Desert Moon, and pyrotechnics were set off by tour manager Daniel Biechele. These devices, known as gerbs, shot sparks into the air, but they also ignited the highly flammable polyurethane foam used for soundproofing the walls and ceiling around the stage. Within seconds, flames appeared on the foam and then climbed toward the ceiling.
Fire Spread and Initial Confusion
Many people in the crowd did not realize something was wrong at first. Because the show featured loud music and lights, some thought the growing flames were part of the act. Smoke quickly filled the room, however, and panic began to spread. Within about five minutes, the building was ablaze.
The club had a licensed capacity of 404 people, but at least 462 were inside that night. Nearby exits were available, but most attendees rushed toward the front door where they had entered. As smoke and heat grew intense, the narrow hallway to the main exit became blocked by people trying to escape, making evacuation difficult…