By Kathryn Romeyn
Responding to the Chicago nightclub stampede that killed 21 people four days earlier, the special report would have shown safety precautions for clubs and other crowded public places. The reporter did not get to write his story, but did film the tragic fire that consumed The Station night club in West Warwick, R.I. that killed 100 and severely injuring many others.
Approaching the one year anniversary of the most devastating night club fire in more than 60 years, it is necessary to ask one question — are Boston clubs safe enough?
Fire safety regulations were adopted across the country after the 1942 fire in Boston’s Cocoanut Grove club which killed almost 500 people. Following The Station fire, Mayor Thomas M. Menino implemented a ban of pyrotechnic displays, initiated the use of a safety checklist, emergency employee training and a city-wide inspection of clubs.
“Boston is the most heavily regulated city in the country and the most inspected. Never say never, but what happened in The Station fire couldn’t happen in Boston,” said Mindy D’Arbeloff, vice president of Lyons Group, the company which owns and operates more than 20 Boston clubs and restaurants including Axis, Avalon, Paradise, Modern and Bill’s Bar.
For these larger Boston nightclubs, the Rhode Island fire was a shock but did not cause panic. D’Arbeloff said “everyone was up to code” and “nothing drastic has changed except awareness.”
People died in The Station and in the Chicago club E2 because many patrons failed to recognize all of the exits. D’Arbeloff warns that the public needs to be consciously aware of exits because the way in is not necessarily the only way out.
One student recognized the fire did affect her behavior at clubs.
“When I go to clubs I think about where the exits are. I also notice when clubs look overly crowded,” said Erin Hanley, a middler history and political science major.
D’Arbeloff recognized club goers need to “take a strong look at capacities.” Although clubs always seem to stuff the people in, they sometimes go over capacity, which would only create disaster in a panic situation.
“Clubs are always crowded; that is what makes them good,” said Zachary Menhard, a middler international business major.
Sometimes crowds get out of hand and employees or officers must step in.
“In Boston, I feel safe because there are always police officers at the door making sure things are OK,” said Becky Dellert, middler international business, accounting and Spanish major. “Sometimes the number of people get in excess and I’ve seen the fire department close things down.”
Tony Talbot, a manager of Harpers Ferry said they had to change some wiring.
“But there’s not much chance of anything happening because we never go over capacity and everything is fireproof,” Talbot said.
The egg crate foam padding that was used as sound proofing around the stage at The Station was highly flammable, according to investigations this caused the fire to spread quickly. D’Arbeloff promised that all the Lyons Group clubs use fireproof materials and they all now have sprinkler systems.
According to the executive secretary of the licensing department for Boston, who wished to not be identified, in order for a club to be granted a license it must first have a certificate from the Inspectional Services Board. She said, “that was always the case, but since the Rhode Island tragedy the board has been more severe in dealing with public safety problems.”
