One mourner called it sad -- but nice.

Nightclub Blaze Probe Continues Mourners Recall Nightclub Horror, Loved Ones Fire Sweeps Through Club Lead Singer Describes Fire EMERGENCY INFORMATION Emergency Information Line: (401) 462-7111 RESOURCES Share Your Condolences Discuss The Fire List Of Victims Statement From Club's Owners Tragedy Recalls Boston's Cocoanut Grove Fire

Thousands of people came together Monday night at memorials for the 97 victims of last week's Rhode Island nightclub fire.

Some 2,000 people packed the West Warwick Civic Center to hear tributes for the victims. They included former co-workers of a schoolbus driver who died in the blaze -- who one friend said undoubtedly died trying to help others out of the club.

About 400 others were in a nearby church, holding up pictures of the victims. They heard a pastor tell victims' families that they are showing "quiet courage."

Co-Owner Gives First Interview

A co-owner of the Rhode Island nightclub that went up in flames has given his first interview -- to the TV station where he used to work.

Jeffrey Derderian told a Boston station that he and his brother want to cooperate with the investigation "in any way" they can.

Derderian says they did not give rock band Great White permission to use pyrotechnics at The Station. The fire broke out from the pyrotechnics, quickly consuming the building and leaving 97 people dead.

The band contends it was given permission.

Derderian says he and his brother are devastated by what happened.

In an earlier statement, the brothers had said they have been in touch with state officials since Friday morning.

But prosecutors have said they still have more questions for the brothers.

Investigation Into R.I. Nightclub Blaze Moves Forward

Rhode Island officials are looking for answers after the fire.

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch called on the owners of The Station nightclub to answer questions about the show that night.

"I remain hopeful that the Derderians will cooperate with the police as much as they have with the press," Lynch said. "We're all trying to get answers."

Lynch said that he has been unable to interview owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian.

"Jeffrey Derderian as this incident was unfolding at the scene responded to a few questions posed by people that were assembling there," Lynch said. "Mr. Michael Derderian was out of town. When he returned, he did not respond to questions. Mr. Jeffrey Derderian has not responded to questions since then."

Over the weekend, Jeffrey Derderian held a press conference in which he read a statement saying that he did not know the band Great White was going to use pyrotechnics.

"At no time did my brother or I have any knowledge that pyrotechnics were going to be used by the band Great White," he said. "No permission was ever requested by the band or any of its agents to use pyrotechnics at The Station, and no permission was ever given."

Video taken inside the nightclub before and during the fire seems to show the pyrotechnics igniting soundproofing foam around the stage. Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, said that the tour manager received verbal permission from Michael Derderian to use pyrotechnics.

"The tour manager for Great White was very specific in his conversations with one of the owners. He talked about the special effects that were used, told them that they were going to be used, and that person approved it," said McPherson.

Pyrotechnics have been used at the club in the past. The lead singer from the now-defunct band Lovin' Kry has a videotape of his band playing at The Station, with fireworks going off behind him.

"I know that stage guy at The Station knows what they were, because he used to kick ours over all the time and we'd be like, 'Be careful of the pyro,' so he knows what they look like. He knows exactly what they are," David Vaccaro said.

The difference now is that when that band played at the club two years ago, the nightclub was not equipped with soundproofing material that went up in flames last Thursday. The Boston Herald reported that the materials may have been installed in violation of state building and safety codes that require acoustical materials to be flame resistant.

The state has now issued a moratorium on the use of pyrotechnics at clubs. Gov. Carcieri said early Monday that the state will be cracking down on nightclubs across the state.

"We've got to change the way these clubs operate, the venues and what's inside them. This should not have happened," Carcieri said.

Eighty people were still hospitalized Monday morning, with 24 of them in critical condition. The state medical examiner has been working around the clock trying to identify all the victims, 55 of whom have been positively identified so far, leaving 42 unidentified.

"We are going to have some of those 42 that are going to be more difficult to ID," Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri said. "Unfortunately, there may be a longer vigil here, as the complexities of making sure the identification is correct will increase with the last number.

The medical examiner said she would not need DNA from family members. She said she has the information needed to positively identify the remaining victims.

Carcieri also urged those who were in the club but who did not suffer obvious injury to take advantage of the services being offered at hospitals. Some have complained of respiratory problems in the days after the fire, while others may be dealing with emotional issues.

"Obviously it's an enormous emotional trauma for those people that were able to get out unharmed and had friends or others who didn't make it," Carcieri said. "Please don't hesitate. There are resources out there to help them."

Carcieri said that he asked the federal government for a disaster declaration, which could make extra funds available to help the victims and their families. He also said the state will have a family resource center running by Wednesday that will coordinate fund-raising efforts.

Sunday, family members got a chance to view the fire scene together, away from the glare of media cameras. Later, members of the community also visited the scene, leaving flowers, candles and other testimonials to the victims.

Monday, two memorial services are scheduled in Rhode Island. One will be held at St. Gregory The Great Church at 5 p.m. in Warwick. Then a vigil will be held later at 6 p.m. at the West Warwick Civic Center.