Extra fire information

In case you're curious about some other night club fires or want to read up on what is happening to keep these tragedies from reoccurring I suggest you read page 29 of NFPA's Case Study of Nightclub Fires. There is also information about what has been done since the Rhode Island incident.


In July of 2003, several agencies got together and changed some codes, here is a listing :

• fire sprinklers in new nightclubs and similar assembly occupancies and in existing facilities that accommodate more than 100
• building owners to inspect exits to ensure they're free of obstructions and to maintain records of each inspection
• The presence of at least one trained crowd manager for all gatherings, except religious services. For larger gatherings, additional crowd managers are required at a ratio of 1:250
• Prohibit festival seating for crowds of more than 250 unless a life-safety evaluation approved by the authority having jurisdiction has been performed. Festival seating, according to NFPA 101®, is a form of audience/spectator accommodation in which no seating, other than a floor or ground surface, is provided for the audience to gather and observe a performance

Here is a link for more detailed code changes: CODE CHANGES 

Thanks for taking a look around. I wish you guys all luck in your careers as fire prevention specialists or fire fighters. Watch these videos for what they guys from Santa Ana Fire Academy are training for and other interesting clips :






cool fire trucks! :




this one has a great story..

Fire Prevention

According to a report by FEMA put out in June 2004, Nightclub Fires in 2000, FEMA reports the following:

• Among all structure fires, nightclub fires in the United States are proportionately few in number (0.3%). However, maximum or over-capacity crowds at popular nightclubs create the potential for high numbers of casualties in the event of a fire

• Local jurisdictions that do not routinely inspect nightclubs or are lax in enforcing existing safety regulations

• A common safety violation at nightclubs is locked or blocked exits

• The most common causes of fire at nightclubs and bars are incendiary, electrical, cooking, and smoking

So we've read about fires at nightclubs, so we know that they can occur. We've read some statistics about some common causes and code violations. Now, how do we protect ourselves? I'm going to put out a few suggestions for club or bar safety. Feel free to comment and leave your ideas or suggestions below.....

TIP 1 : Know your surroundings.  Not only for safety reasons, but for the sake of fire as well. If a club or bar doesn't feel right, or has visible overloaded extension cords, or too much decorations near electrical appliances or outlets, then this probably isn't the safest place to be.

TIP 2 : Know your exit route.  Take a look around, look for EXIT signs, make sure they aren't blocked. Keep these in mind in case there is a need to leave quickly.

TIP 3 : Have a plan.  This doesn't mean performing an emergency drill while out having fun, but it does mean be prepared and have a cell phone readily available with emergency contacts, and let your friends and family know where you will be for the night.

It is also the responsibility of the night club owners to make sure patrons are safe. A Fairfax, Virginia Fire Prevention Code 110.2 states, " the owner shall be responsible for the safe and proper maintenance of any structure, premises, or lot. In all structures, the fire protection equipment, means of egress, alarms, devices, and safeguards shall be maintained in a safe and proper operating condition as required by the SFPC and applicable standards".

Make sure the environment you are in looks like the owners have kept conditions up to proper standards. Here is a short sample clip of employees being trained for fire safety at a nightclub :

Fires Inside Nightclubs

This week in Fire Tech 104 at Santa Ana College we read and viewed links of the Station Nightclub Fire. For those of you who aren't aware of the incident it happened in Rhode Island in February 2003. At least 100 people were killed when a band's pyrotechnical display caught fire. Unbeknownst to many, this same band played a similar event where their pyrotechnics display caught fire as well. The fire was put out before any real damage was done.


For further information on the Station Nightclub Fire :
 http://aerospace.ceas.uc.edu/content/dam/aero/docs/fire/Papers/StationNightClubFire.pdf




Here is video of fire fighters putting out flames :
This week in Fire Tech 104 at Santa Ana College we read and viewed links of the Station Nightclub Fire. For those of you who aren't aware of the incident it happened in Rhode Island in February 2003. At least 100 people were killed when a band's pyrotechnical display caught fire. Unbeknownst to many, this same band played a similar event where their pyrotechnics display caught fire as well. The fire was put out before any real damage was done.





For further information on the Station Nightclub Fire :

http://aerospace.ceas.uc.edu/content/dam/aero/docs/fire/Papers/StationNightClubFire.pdf

Here is video of fire fighters putting out flames :