Firefighters recall club fire tragedy

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) – Hundreds of firefighters from all across Rhode Island rushed to the deadly fire in West Warwick on a night they say they will never forget.

Firefighters from across the state reflected on the events that unfolded on the fateful night.

State Fire Marshall John Chartier was one of the many responders to the tragic fire.

• Photos: Firefighters Respond to Station Nightclub Fire

“It has a dramatic effect on not only me, but firefighters that worked for me. We went through a year after that with a lot of counseling, a lot of stress management. To some degree it’s the reason I’m here. What I saw that night at the Station fire drives me every day,” said Chartier.

The East Providence Fire Chief agrees that it’s hard for firefighters to mentally recover from any fatal fire.

“People think we’re supposed to bear it all, but when we go back to the station, we’ll rehash it and talk about it. One of the things they tell you in counseling is the more you talk about it, the better you can deal with it,” said Chief Oscar Elmasian.

• Know More: Timeline of Events

State Fire Marshal John Chartier explains that every fire, whether there is a loss of life or not, is nothing short of a tragedy.

“Anytime there is a fire, there is a tragedy,” said Chartier. “Folks are not going to be happy with the eventual outcome. There is not much we can do about that. All we can do is work harder every day to make sure that our codes are good, our prevention methods are good, and we prevent fires from happening. ”

• Know More: Providence Bouncers Trained for Emergencies

Ten years later, responding firefighters are still coping with what they witnessed.