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CNN Saturday Morning News

Grand Jury Looking into Rhode Island Nightclub Fire

Aired March 01, 2003 - 07:30   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And turning now to that deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island, a grand jury has begun looking into the blaze, and it is focusing a lot on the club's soundproofing material. CNN's Brian Cabell joins us from West Warwick with the latest -- Brain.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. More than 20 funerals are being held today alone. That gives you some idea of the enormity of this tragedy. A number of funerals held in the last couple of days; many, many more scheduled in the days ahead.

The investigation is now nine days old. And, as you say, their focus is now turning to the foam that was installed as sound insulation on the club behind me. Apparently it was bought back in June of 2000 from a local company. It was delivered here and installed on the walls. The company owner told us that this is not really intended to be used as sound insulation. It's actually a packaging material.

It only cost $575, and significantly, it was not flame retardant. It was flammable. That's important, because from all reports we've seen and heard, the flames spread rapidly on the walls and on the ceiling of that club nine days ago.

The grand jury has now met for two days over the last week. Will not be meeting over the weekend, as far as we know. From all indications -- and there's very little coming out of these proceedings, of course -- one of the band members did testify yesterday for a few hours. Another band member, the lead singer, did not. He is seeking immunity, and he was last seen at the airport in Providence last night, apparently leaving the state for now.

One of the more alarming reports to come out over the last couple of days comes from a few people who say they tried to get out the side door on that horrible night. A side door that was less crowded than the front door, but they say they were turned away by a bouncer at that door.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GIBBS, SURVIVOR: I said, "What about the door right there? You can get people out quicker." He said, "That's reserved for the band." And he started getting physical, pushing us quicker to the windows and the doors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: No response yet from the club regarding those allegations. We tried to call the owners and they have not responded.

Finally, a report has come out from the West Warwick Fire Department. This is an inspection report over the last couple of years done on the club, this station nightclub. Last year, for example, there were nine routine violations. Things such as exit doors swinging in the wrong direction, panic hardware broken on the same door, an open gasoline can in the basement. All of those were remedied within a relatively short period of time.

Most significant here, though, Anderson, is there is not a single mention, as far as we can see, of the insulation that was installed on the walls and on the ceiling. The insulation that apparently was, in fact, flammable. Back to you.

COOPER: Brian, just very briefly, is there any word on whether or not Jeff Derderian and his brother have been talking to investigators?

CABELL: The last word we heard is that they are not talking, and they are not talking, according to one of their attorneys, simply because they think they are a target of this investigation. They've handed over some documents, but they are not cooperating at this point.

COOOPER: All right. Brian Cabell, live in West Warwick, Rhode Island, thanks very much.

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 March 1, 2003 - 07:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And turning now to that deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island, a grand jury has begun looking into the blaze, and it is focusing a lot on the club's soundproofing material. CNN's Brian Cabell joins us from West Warwick with the latest -- Brain.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. More than 20 funerals are being held today alone. That gives you some idea of the enormity of this tragedy. A number of funerals held in the last couple of days; many, many more scheduled in the days ahead.

The investigation is now nine days old. And, as you say, their focus is now turning to the foam that was installed as sound insulation on the club behind me. Apparently it was bought back in June of 2000 from a local company. It was delivered here and installed on the walls. The company owner told us that this is not really intended to be used as sound insulation. It's actually a packaging material.

It only cost $575, and significantly, it was not flame retardant. It was flammable. That's important, because from all reports we've seen and heard, the flames spread rapidly on the walls and on the ceiling of that club nine days ago.

The grand jury has now met for two days over the last week. Will not be meeting over the weekend, as far as we know. From all indications -- and there's very little coming out of these proceedings, of course -- one of the band members did testify yesterday for a few hours. Another band member, the lead singer, did not. He is seeking immunity, and he was last seen at the airport in Providence last night, apparently leaving the state for now.

One of the more alarming reports to come out over the last couple of days comes from a few people who say they tried to get out the side door on that horrible night. A side door that was less crowded than the front door, but they say they were turned away by a bouncer at that door.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GIBBS, SURVIVOR: I said, "What about the door right there? You can get people out quicker." He said, "That's reserved for the band." And he started getting physical, pushing us quicker to the windows and the doors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABELL: No response yet from the club regarding those allegations. We tried to call the owners and they have not responded.

Finally, a report has come out from the West Warwick Fire Department. This is an inspection report over the last couple of years done on the club, this station nightclub. Last year, for example, there were nine routine violations. Things such as exit doors swinging in the wrong direction, panic hardware broken on the same door, an open gasoline can in the basement. All of those were remedied within a relatively short period of time.

Most significant here, though, Anderson, is there is not a single mention, as far as we can see, of the insulation that was installed on the walls and on the ceiling. The insulation that apparently was, in fact, flammable. Back to you.

COOPER: Brian, just very briefly, is there any word on whether or not Jeff Derderian and his brother have been talking to investigators?

CABELL: The last word we heard is that they are not talking, and they are not talking, according to one of their attorneys, simply because they think they are a target of this investigation. They've handed over some documents, but they are not cooperating at this point.

COOOPER: All right. Brian Cabell, live in West Warwick, Rhode Island, thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com