Station survivor: Anger not productive

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The Station Nightclub Fire that claimed 100 lives ten years ago also left hundreds of survivors who are still trying to cope with the aftermath.

Linda Fisher, one of the survivors, joined The Rhode Show Wednesday morning to discuss her emotions on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy .

Fisher was severely burned while climbing through a window after the building caught fire. She spent weeks in a coma and underwent multiple surgeries, but, despite the life-changing problems she has been forced to deal with, she doesn't think passing blame would be productive.

"People ask me all the time, 'Are you mad? Are you angry? Is there anyone you hate or blame?'" Fisher said. "That's not a productive way to live life. You can't be mad all the time because that's counter-productive to survive."

• Interactive: View the memorial plans
• Photos: 2003 Station Nightclub Fire
• In Remembrance: The victims

Her life has hardly gone back to normal - her injuries still hinder her from simple tasks such as braiding her hair - but she told the Rhode Show that the last decade has made it easier for her to move on. She was able to return to the site of the tragedy for the ceremony which unveiled plans to build a permanent memorial . That was the first time she had been there in 10 years.

"I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel," she said. "Everyone kept saying it will get better, it will get easier... and it was hard to picture that." 

Now, Fisher has a two-month-old granddaughter. She will spend the 10 year anniversary reflecting at the memorial service.

But as for the 20 year anniversary a decade from now? She just wants to sit with close friends and a few other survivors, and talk about their grandkids.

Special coverage of the Club Fire Tragedy: Ten Years Later will begin Wednesday on Eyewitness News Live at 5 on WPRI 12 and WPRI.com.