Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire (57 page)

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.