JAKARTA - On the evening of February 20, a local news crew was at Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island to follow up on the nightclub attack in Chicago. But what they got was different news: one of the deadliest fires in the history of the United States (US).
Four days before that night, 21 people were killed in a raid on a club in Chicago. Jeffrey Derderian, one of the club owners - along with his brother, Michael - explained to the local news agency how they managed the nightclub security.
That evening Jeffrey anticipated that many people would come to the club to see the heavy-metal band, Great White. At exactly 11 p.m., before the show, Daniel Biechele, Great White tour manager set off fireworks behind the personnel.
The fire burned the soundproof foam on the club ceiling. No one realized how dangerous the situation was, until the fire suddenly spread quickly, igniting panic within the Nightclub Station. Four hundred people crammed their way out of the club through the front entrance.
One of the worst fires in US history
As black smoke filled the interior of the club, a rush of desperate people burst into the front door, causing a pile, trapping the people where they stood. Although firefighters responded within minutes, the deaths of many were inevitable.
Despite their best efforts, the fire department failed to get people to safety through the front door. A total of 96 people died in the smoke and fire.
Most of the bodies were found near the front entrance. Among those who died was Great White guitarist Ty Longley.
Meanwhile, 35 other people were left in critical condition, including four who eventually died from their injuries. Daniel Biechele faces legal consequences.
He was charged with setting off fireworks without permission. Daniel Biechele pleaded guilty to one hundred counts of accidental murder.
Daniele Biechele received a sentence of four years in prison with a reprieve of eleven years. Meanwhile, Michael Derderian pleaded guilty to his negligence in managing the crowd at the Station Nightclub.
Michael received a sentence of 15 years in prison, of which he spent four years serving, and the remaining eleven years were suspended. Michael's brother, Jeffrey, received ten-years probation.
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