Newspaper puts capacity of The Station above legal limit
(Providence-AP) -- An investigation by The Providence Journal puts 412 people inside The Station nightclub when it burned down on February 20th.
The number is higher than the capacity limit determined by the town of
West Warwick. ItÔŅĹs also greater than estimates given by the governor.
One hundred people died in the blaze that started when sparks from a bandÔŅĹs pyrotechnics ignited highly flammable foam used around the stage as soundproofing.
Nearly 200 others were injured as they tried to escape.
Investigators have been looking at the clubÔŅĹs capacity to
determine if overcrowding contributed to the multiple deaths and injuries.
When brothers Jeffrey and Michael Derderian took ownership of the club in March 2000, the capacity of the club was put at 258 with furniture and 404 without.
The 412 names were compiled from interviews with lawyers, survivors, relatives of survivors and hospital officials.
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