VIDEO: Twenty-three years ago, 100 people died and more than 200 others were injured in a fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick. So what caused the fire that night, and why was it so disastrous?

The headliner, Great White, took the stage at about 11:07 p.m. As the opening number got underway, their manager set off pyrotechnic devices known as gerbs, which shoot sparks into the air. The sparks ignited the foam insulating material that surrounded the stage, and the flames quickly began to spread.

The cause of the fire was determined to be the use of pyrotechnics combined with the presence of combustible interior finish, materials and furnishings. This, according to the report, caused the people inside the club to quickly be overcome by smoke and heat which hindered their ability to escape, along with the narrow means of egress at the main entrance.

The fire and the subsequent investigation led to significant changes in fire code and safety regulations.

WPRI-TV CBS/MyNetworkTV 12 Providence

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VIDEO: A cherry picker struck a power line in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood Wednesday morning, sparking an explosion and a natural gas fire that forced building evacuations and trapped a crane operator. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. during a window installation project at a local apartment building. Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene to contain the fire, which took several hours to extinguish as Puget Sound Energy crews worked to stabilize a ruptured gas line.

“When the vehicle, the lift itself, made contact with the power lines, it ignited the fuel line of the vehicle. That fire then spread to a natural gas line directly below on the sidewalk,” David Cuerpo of the Seattle Fire Department explained of how the fire started. A sea of biodegradable foam was sprayed throughout the streets to prevent the natural gas fire from spreading to neighboring structures.

Residents in the area reported seeing flames shoot into the air shortly after the initial contact. The operator of the lift was trapped for nearly three hours. Firefighters were unable to reach the operator until Seattle City Light crews de-energized the high-voltage power lines. While the operator was not injured, the rescue required specialized units to manage the various hazards at the scene.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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The Renton Regional Fire Authority says that a fire caused significant damage to a home in East Renton. Firefighters responded to a fire call on West Lake Desire Dr. SE. near 181 Ave. SE. around 12:00 p.m. When crews arrived, they found the house property fully covered in fire. The fire had started in one of the outer buildings on the property and spread to the main building. Firefighters were able to get everyone out of the building safely and put out the fire. No injuries were reported. The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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VIDEO: A house fire on Doubletree Court on Thursday morning was caused by a lithium ion battery believed to be inside a massage gun, according to Richland Fire Battalion Chief Michael VanBeek. VanBeek said the fire was on the second floor of the home and limited to the linen closet where the massage gun was located. Four people were inside of the home at the time, but all evacuated and none were injured. Richland Fire confirmed the fire was extinguished.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

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Why do we need a PPE manager? Our PPE protects every fire department’s most valuable assets—its firefighters. As a result, our PPE selection and maintenance have become a key component of any well-run department and require a dedicated role.

The post Keeping It Safe: The PPE Manager appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.