In only 90 seconds, a fire in the Station nightclub killed 100 people and injured hundreds more. It would take nearly 20 years to find out why–and who was really at fault. All it took for a hundred people to die during a show by the hair metal band Great White was a sudden burst from two giant sparklers that ignited the acoustical foam lining the Station nightclub. But who was at fault? And who … at fault? And who would pay? This being Rhode Island, the two questions wouldn’t necessarily have the same answer.
Within 24 hours the governor of Rhode Island and the local police commissioner were calling for criminal charges, although the investigation had barely begun, no real evidence had been gathered, and many of the victims hadn’t been identified. Though many parties could be held responsible, fingers pointed quickly at the two brothers who owned the club. But were they really to blame?
Bestselling author and three-time Emmy Award-winning reporter Scott James investigates all the central figures, including the band’s manager and lead singer, the fire inspector, the maker of the acoustical foam, as well as the brothers. Drawing on firsthand accounts, interviews with many involved, and court documents, James explores the rush to judgment about what happened that left the victims and their families, whose stories he also tells, desperate for justice.
Trial By Fire is the heart-wrenching story of the fire’s aftermath because while the fire, one of America’s deadliest, lasted fewer than two minutes, the search for the truth would take twenty years.
more
Trial by Fire grabbed me from the first page…putting me right in the club, as the fire grew. The writing is fantastic, with an urgent, driving narrative that’s the hallmark of the best crime thrillers. The author recreates the events with survivors, which must’ve required extraordinary research and meticulous interviewing. He bravely examines the motives driving law enforcement and prosecutors. Trial by Fire offers an important piece in the puzzle towards understanding what really happened in the Station Nightclub fire, during and with the aftermath.
February 20, 2003. This is a date that hundreds of people won’t ever be able to forget. A date that changed the lives of so many. What started as what was supposed to be a fun night out at the Station in RI, ended in the loss of 100 lives, and more than 200 injured. On this unfortunate night, there was a band booked to play called Great White. What started as a rush of fun and energy, ended abruptly in tragedy and shock. Minutes after the band started to play, the set caught on fire and it spread faster than wild flowers. This particular story talks about what really happened that night from several peoples’ point of views. This book follows a few individuals lives and the suffering and challenges they endured after the accideng, as well as the days leading up to the sentencing of the bands’ manager that was in charge of the pyrotechnics that were as some view, responsible for the fire, as well as the sentencing of the Derderian Brothers who were the owners of the club at the time. This book is very interesting pointing out many arguments as to who was really at fault for ending the lives of so many, as well as the twisted way the media portrayed such a tragedy. I received a free copy of this book through @Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. It was a very well written and informative book. This isn’t something I typically read, but it kept my interest and pulled at many of my emotions. I am very glad I picked up this book. I rate this
“But the most important part of this tragedy was … one hundred people perished and hundreds more were hurt in the fire, with ripple effects that impacted thousands. Every soul deserved to have his or her story told. The confines of a book don’t allow me to tell them all, so I’ve selected a few to represent the many.” – Trial By Fire by Scott James
In only 90 seconds, a fire in a Rhode Island nightclub left 100 people dead or dying and injured hundreds more. This heartbreaking non-fiction account of this tragedy releases today and is the first easily accessible record of all the facts. This isn’t the analysis of a criminal mastermind but the tragic story of many factors combining to create “the perfect storm” that resulted in unimaginable loss.
There is hope in this highly readable account of The Station Fire that occurred on Feb 20, 2003 and its aftermath. I commend author Scott James for his unbiased, thorough, and well-documented book.
A well investigated and delivered story. Trial by Fire is truly heartbreaking, the loss of life devastating and investigation for the truth compelling but frustrating. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and rode the gambit of emotions as the investigation played out. A Brilliant read and one I highly recommend.
This is an incredibly tragic and and heart-breaking story of the fire that occurred at The Station, a bar/live music venue in West Warwick, RI in February 2003 where heavy metal Jack Russell’s Great White was performing. Fire works were set off to start the show and they quickly ignited the soundproofing foam that had been used on the walls and ceiling to control the noise. Over 100 fans died as they tried to escape and several hundred more were severely burned and injured.
The author did a fantastic job researching and writing this story. I remember when this happened but did not live in the area so I did not hear much after the initial first few days after the tragedy. I was hooked from the first page until the very end. I was glad the author referred back to some of the survivors and how they were doing, especially Gina Russo and college swimmer Phil Barr. This story, although very sad, really needed to be told to sort out what was fact and what was fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this extraordinary story in exchange for an honest review. If I could, I would give t more than 5 stars.