Gov. weighs in on Station Fire memorial

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- Controversy has surrounded the site of the Station Nightclub Fire for years now, and Governor Chafee has conveyed new thoughts on the matter.

For nearly a decade, a makeshift memorial has stood at the site of the deadly Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick. Family members of the victims have been fighting for the land to create a permanent memorial, but their efforts have failed because the owner of the property hasn't agreed to sell it or donate it to them.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee is now saying that he's open to the idea of taking the land by eminent domain.

"I want to listen to those family members of the victims and listen to what they have to offer, and I'm certainly open to any suggestions," he said.

We spoke with Dave Kane on Sunday, whose son Nicholas was the youngest of the 100 victims of the fire. Kane is leading the charge, asking the state to take over the land where the Station nightclub once stood.

"It's about time we did something about this," Kane said. "I believe it's time for the state of Rhode Island to take the property by eminent domain in the public good."

Kane's call for action is in response to a satellite memorial being built near Warwick City Hall. He says that memorial will detract from efforts to build a permanent memorial at the site of the 2003 tragedy.