PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island officials announced plans Tuesday to create a program to offer counseling to survivors of a nightclub fire that killed 100 people nearly a year ago.
The project is designed to provide mental-health and substance-abuse counseling to survivors of the Feb. 20 blaze at The Station in West Warwick, south of Providence.
The effort, organized by the state Department of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals, will be paid for using $495,000 in federal funds.
The program will also provide training to help health workers and clergy care for 200 people who suffered serious burns and other injuries.
It is intended as a ``source of help for survivors, family members, first responders and others who may be suffering,'' Gov. Don Carcieri said in a statement.
The fire started when a rock band's pyrotechnic display set fire to flammable foam placed around the stage as soundproofing.
