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Lessons From the Station Nightclub Fire

When
February 04, 2026
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location
Four Points Sheraton, 1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062
Spaces left
75
Registered
25 registrants

Registration

AHJ Registration
AHJs registered with the Chapter are eligible for special event pricing.
Drink Ticket Sponsor – $250.00
This sponsors one drink tickets per attendee to be used during the networking hour after the presentation
Guest (non-member) – $72.00
Please sign in if you are an SFPE New England Chapter member for a discounted registration price.
Prepaid (Sponsor)
SFPE-NEC Member – $60.00
Student
Student members of the Chapter are eligible for special event pricing.

Lessons From the Station Nightclub Fire

Presented by: John Barylick, author of KILLER SHOW: The Station Nightclub Fire, America’s Deadliest Rock Concert

Subject Matter: The Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick, R.I. on February 20, 2003 in which 100 persons were killed and hundreds injured; its multiple causes; its legal aftermath; take-aways for fire professionals

Subsidiary Topics:

Construction of the Station Nightclub
Use of flammable plastic foam sound insulation
Illegal use of pyrotechnics
Negligent inspection by fire marshal
Overcrowding of the club
Post-fire burn testing
Criminal and civil litigation
Post-fire code enhancements

Visual Aids: The presentation incorporates photos and videos from the fire itself, plus videos of post-fire materials testing.

Sponsorship Opportunity: Consider becoming a drink sponsor for the networking session (register as part of the event).

3:00 - 4:30 PM: Board of Directors Meeting (Members Welcome)

4:30 - 5:00 PM: Registration & Cocktails

5:00 - 6:00 PM: Dinner and Program

6:00 - 7:00 PM: Cocktails and Networking

Dinner: Chef’s Choice Buffet including soup, two salads, two entrées, starch, vegetable, dessert display, coffee, and tea. Please email program@sfpe-newengland.org with any dietary restrictions.

Speaker Bio:

John Barylick is one of the lead attorneys who represented victims in wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the 2003 Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island in which 100 persons were killed. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire.

John is the author of KILLER SHOW: The Station Nightclub Fire, America’s Deadliest Rock Concert, University Press of New England, 2012.

Mr. Barylick was the Judge Joseph Weisberger Visiting Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law and is a frequent presenter before fire service, fire safety, and event safety audiences.

His presentations contain graphics and videos from the fire and from post-fire testing. They explore the multiple causes of the fire and describe the struggle for justice thereafter.

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