H. Con. Res. 85
Agreed to March 13, 2003
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the seventh day of January, two thousand and three
Concurrent Resolution
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 submission of this resolution
with life-threatening burns and other injuries;
Whereas the victims of the fire were residents of Rhode Island,
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 professionals, 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 General Hospital, Miriam Hos-
pital, Roger Williams Hospital, Landmark Hospital, University
of Massachusetts/Worcester Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hos-
pital, Westerly Hospital, Shriners Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital,
Memorial 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 services;
Whereas State and local officials have responded to the fire and
its aftermath quickly, effectively, and compassionately, and the
people of Rhode Island and the Nation are grateful for their
efforts;
Whereas Governor Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island and West War-
wick Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer have shown exceptional
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
H. Con. Res. 85—2
impressively and effectively coordinated a myriad of State and
local activities;
Whereas area funeral directors and medical examiners have pro-
vided 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 transportation, mem-
bers 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 members of the community;
Whereas Federal agencies, including the Social Security Adminis-
tration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 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 expertise that has been extremely helpful to the
State’s emergency response to the tragedy;
Whereas the West Warwick fire is only the most recent example
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 concur-
ring), 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 War-
wick, Rhode Island, and offers its hope for the quick and
full recovery of those persons who were injured in the fire;
(2) expresses immense gratitude for the efforts of countless
emergency response personnel, local, State, and Federal offi-
cials, health care providers, volunteers, businesses, and citizens
who have been part of the response to this tragedy; and
H. Con. Res. 85—3
(3) urges State and local officials and the owners of enter-
tainment facilities to examine their safety practices, fire codes,
and enforcement capabilities in light of this horrific tragedy
and to take all necessary action to ensure that such a tragedy
never befalls any community again.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.