Digital Extra: The Station Fire

09:24 AM EDT on Tuesday, June 21, 2005

BY MARK ARSENAULT
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Station nightclub survivors opposed to the reappointment of Fire Marshal Irving J. Owens have presented Governor Carcieri with a petition signed by 675 people, encouraging the governor to choose a new state fire marshal.

Victoria Potvin, a survivor of the 2003 fire at The Station nightclub, and president of The Station Family Fund, a nonprofit relief effort, started the petition online a week ago, after The Journal reported that Owens is the top recommendation of the governor's fire marshal search committee.

She brought the petition to the State House yesterday, with other survivors and family members of Station victims.

Carcieri's press spokesman, Jeff Neal, accepted the petition for the governor.

"I hope it sends a message," Potvin said. "If enough people make their concerns heard, then [Carcieri] is going to have to take that into consideration."

The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs has backed Owens for the position, and has defended Owens from criticism stemming from The Station fire, which killed 100 people.

Last February, Carcieri ordered a nationwide search for applicants to compete for the marshal's job. Owens applied to be reappointed.

The nine-member panel the governor established to review applications for the job decided that Owens was the most qualified candidate. The governor is not legally bound by the panel's recommendations, but will give them great weight, Neal has said.