IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 85
Expressing the sense of the Congress with regard to the need for improved 
fire safety in nonresidential buildings in the aftermath of the tragic 
fire on February 20, 2003, at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode 
Island. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2003
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. SIMMONS, 
Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. 
LYNCH, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. 
OLVER, and Mr. TIERNEY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress with regard to the 
need for improved fire safety in nonresidential buildings 
in the aftermath of the tragic fire on February 20, 
2003, at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Whereas, on the night of February 20, 2003, a pyrotechnic 
display ignited a massive fire at The Station nightclub in 
West Warwick, Rhode Island; 
Whereas 99 people have died as a result of the fire and an 
additional 186 people were injured in the fire, many of 
whom remain hospitalized as of the date of the submis-
sion of this resolution with life-threatening burns and 
other injuries;
•HCON 85 IH 
Whereas the victims of the fire were residents of Rhode Is-
land, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several other 
States; 
Whereas the firefighters, police officers (particularly officers 
of the West Warwick Police Department who were the 
first to arrive on the scene), and medical personnel who 
responded to the fire performed heroically under horrific 
circumstances, and they risked their own lives to save 
many of the injured; 
Whereas, at hospitals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, 
doctors, nurses, hospital staff, mental health profes-
sionals, and other health care workers toiled through the 
night and in the following days to care for the injured, 
and they continue to provide world-class care to victims 
of the fire who remain hospitalized; 
Whereas hospital care for victims of the fire was provided at 
Rhode Island Hospital, Kent County Hospital, South 
County Hospital, Fatima Hospital, Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital, Miriam Hospital, Roger Williams Hospital, 
Landmark Hospital, University of Massachusetts/Worces-
ter Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Westerly 
Hospital, Shriners Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, Memo-
rial Hospital, Charlton Hospital, and Newport Hospital; 
Whereas the local Red Cross, with 10 paid staff and over 400 
dedicated volunteers, has played a critical role in offering 
comfort to the families of victims and coordinating serv-
ices; 
Whereas State and local officials have responded to the fire 
and its aftermath quickly, effectively, and compas-
sionately, and the people of Rhode Island and the Nation 
are grateful for their efforts;
•HCON 85 IH 
Whereas Governor Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island and West 
Warwick Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer have shown ex-
ceptional leadership under trying circumstances and their 
sensitivity to the families impacted by the tragedy is 
much appreciated; Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty and 
Maj. Gen. Reginald Centracchio, as Co-Chairs of the 
Emergency Management Advisory Council, have also 
played a crucial role in responding to the tragedy; and 
the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has 
impressively and effectively coordinated a myriad of State 
and local activities; 
Whereas area funeral directors and medical examiners have 
provided outstanding service throughout the tragedy; 
Whereas the staff of the local family resource center has 
helped the families of victims to access the services and 
information they need and provided care and comfort to 
hundreds of grieving family members; 
Whereas the people of Rhode Island and concerned citizens 
across the United States have shown incredible generosity 
in response to the tragedy, contributing hundreds of 
thousands of dollars to victims’ assistance efforts; 
Whereas many local businesses have provided victims and 
their families with crucial services from food to transpor-
tation, members of the Rhode Island Bar Association and 
Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association have offered free 
assistance to victims and their families with immediate 
legal issues, and community mental health centers and 
mental health professionals have provided critical mental 
health care to victims and their families and other mem-
bers of the community;
•HCON 85 IH 
Whereas Federal agencies, including the Social Security Ad-
ministration, the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Small 
Business Administration, have offered assistance and ex-
pertise that has been extremely helpful to the State’s 
emergency response to the tragedy; 
Whereas the West Warwick fire is only the most recent exam-
ple of how deadly fire can be in nonresidential buildings; 
Whereas, in 2001, the last year in which full statistics are 
available, 80 people were killed and 1,650 injured in fires 
in nonresidential buildings, not including the victims of 
the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and 
Whereas, on February 17, 2003, 21 people were killed in a 
tragic stampede at the E2 Nightclub in Chicago, Illinois, 
and this tragedy and the West Warwick fire, which have 
deeply impacted persons throughout the United States, 
emphasize the critical need for enhancements in nightclub 
and concert hall safety: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) expresses its deepest condolences to the 
family members and friends who lost loved ones as 
a result of the tragic fire on February 20, 2003, at 
The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Is-
land, and offers its hope for the quick and full recov-
ery of those persons who were injured in the fire;
•HCON 85 IH 
(2) expresses immense gratitude for the efforts 
of countless emergency response personnel, local, 
State, and Federal officials, health care providers, 
volunteers, businesses, and citizens who have been 
part of the response to this tragedy; and 
(3) urges State and local officials and the own-
ers of entertainment facilities to examine their safety 
practices, fire codes, and enforcement capabilities in 
light of this horrific tragedy and to take all nec-
essary action to ensure that such a tragedy never be-
falls any community again.
Æ