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American Morning
Fire Aftermath of Nightclub Inferno
Aired February 25, 2003 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities investigating last week's nightclub fire in Rhode Island are now concerned about a lack of cooperation from some aspects in that probe. Meanwhile, grieving relatives in the local community came together yesterday to mourn the 97 people who died in that fire late Thursday night.
Bob Franken live in West Warwick now with more this morning for us -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Some items first of all. We're being told now that some of the band members of Great White will be questioned in the next couple of days. There is an expectation that a grand jury is going to be formed to conduct this investigation. One of the things they're focusing on is the kind of insulating material that was used in the club amid some suspicions that a highly-flammable cheaper kind of foam insulation was being used.
All of this kind of development occurring, as you can see behind me, a memorial has erupted. People here are trying to cope with the tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REV. JOHN E. HOLY, R.I. COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: And I think it would be appropriate right now for those of you and the families who brought a picture of your loved one with you that if you have it with you, if you could just raise it up and show it and turn it around to the congregation that is here, so they can see the faces.
FRANKEN (voice-over): Family and friends of last week's tragic nightclub fire gathered for memorial services to remember the dead. But as mourners wondered why so many lives were cut short, Rhode Island's attorney general wanted to know why The Station's owners had responded to questions about the fire to the press but not them.
PATRICK LYNCH, R.I. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I remain hopeful that they will cooperate, both Jeffrey and Michael, with the law enforcement agencies as much as they have cooperated with the press.
JEFFREY DERDERIAN, CLUB OWNER: We are going to cooperate. We want to cooperate fully. And again, we -- you know, we just want to make sure this doesn't happen again.
FRANKEN: Officials also declined to comment on reports by neighbors that police searched the home of one of the club's owners. Jeff Derderian, who owned the club with his brother, Michael, has maintained that management was unaware that the band, Great White, would use pyrotechnics. The band's attorney, however, says Station management knew of the pyrotechnic display.
Great White guitarist Ty Longley was one of those killed in the Thursday night blaze, one of the worst nightclub disasters in U.S. history.
To help pay for the massive cleanup effort, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri is asking for federal help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And meanwhile, the grim task of identifying the victims goes on. So far, they know that 97 died. They have now identified 78, 19 left, and the hope that nobody else dies -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired February 25, 2003 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities investigating last week's nightclub fire in Rhode Island are now concerned about a lack of cooperation from some aspects in that probe. Meanwhile, grieving relatives in the local community came together yesterday to mourn the 97 people who died in that fire late Thursday night.
Bob Franken live in West Warwick now with more this morning for us -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Some items first of all. We're being told now that some of the band members of Great White will be questioned in the next couple of days. There is an expectation that a grand jury is going to be formed to conduct this investigation. One of the things they're focusing on is the kind of insulating material that was used in the club amid some suspicions that a highly-flammable cheaper kind of foam insulation was being used.
All of this kind of development occurring, as you can see behind me, a memorial has erupted. People here are trying to cope with the tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REV. JOHN E. HOLY, R.I. COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: And I think it would be appropriate right now for those of you and the families who brought a picture of your loved one with you that if you have it with you, if you could just raise it up and show it and turn it around to the congregation that is here, so they can see the faces.
FRANKEN (voice-over): Family and friends of last week's tragic nightclub fire gathered for memorial services to remember the dead. But as mourners wondered why so many lives were cut short, Rhode Island's attorney general wanted to know why The Station's owners had responded to questions about the fire to the press but not them.
PATRICK LYNCH, R.I. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I remain hopeful that they will cooperate, both Jeffrey and Michael, with the law enforcement agencies as much as they have cooperated with the press.
JEFFREY DERDERIAN, CLUB OWNER: We are going to cooperate. We want to cooperate fully. And again, we -- you know, we just want to make sure this doesn't happen again.
FRANKEN: Officials also declined to comment on reports by neighbors that police searched the home of one of the club's owners. Jeff Derderian, who owned the club with his brother, Michael, has maintained that management was unaware that the band, Great White, would use pyrotechnics. The band's attorney, however, says Station management knew of the pyrotechnic display.
Great White guitarist Ty Longley was one of those killed in the Thursday night blaze, one of the worst nightclub disasters in U.S. history.
To help pay for the massive cleanup effort, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri is asking for federal help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And meanwhile, the grim task of identifying the victims goes on. So far, they know that 97 died. They have now identified 78, 19 left, and the hope that nobody else dies -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
