May 10, 2006 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Survivor Of RI Nightclub Fire Recounts Escape
by Ron Sanders
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (CBS4) ―
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Adam Florio survived the fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick that claimed the lives of 100 people.
CBS
A survivor of the Rhode Island nightclub fire spoke to CBS4's Ron Sanders on Wednesday, recounting his escape from the inferno that killed 100 people.
Adam Florio, of Coventry, walked into The Station nightclub with his older sister, Rachel, to see Great White and came out alone. He has his camera with him.
Within seconds, Florio and hundreds of others were enveloped in some, fumes and flames on Feb. 20, 2003.
Many of the 100 people who were killed that night either were quickly overcome by fumes emitted by the foam or became trapped in a crush at the front door.
Florio was burned on his face, ears and neck. He jumped out of a window.
Remarkably, Florio said he hasn't had any nightmares, but he says he often thinks about his sister and her 10-year-old son she left behind -- and Wednesday -- Dan Biechele.
Biechele was the tour manager for heavy metal band Great White, who lit a pyrotechnics display that ignited highly flammable foam that lined the walls and ceiling of The Station nightclub. The foam was used as soundproofing and was placed there by the owners after neighbors complained about noise from the club.
"At first I thought he should take at least one year for every life that was lost -- 100 years," said Florio. "But then I thought, you know, that's life, things happen. Let's just move on with our lives ... let him go to jail. He'll go. Why do we have to have so much aggression. Everybody's life has changed."
Florio believes, during the fire, he heard the voice of an angel tell him it was alright to die. But he thought about his family.
"And it's so great to have such a feeling that so many people get to have," he said. 'You know, unless you go through a tragic event and you realize how precious life is ..."
But Florio still misses his sister.
"Sometimes I'll think she could be standing next to me in a certain situation, like a birthday party, or if I'm at church or if I'm with my nephew, you know, she's around. She's watching over and she's pleased with how we're handling things," he said.
The tragedy led to tougher fire safety laws in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
In Rhode Island, sprinklers are now required in clubs that hold 150 people or more and pyrotechnics are banned in all, but the largest venues.
In Massachusetts, sprinklers are mandatory in clubs that hold more than 100 people.
There are now criminal penalties for blocking exits or failure to comply with the fire safety laws. Business owners can face jail time or fines of up to $25,000.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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