FIRE PREVENTION - Research Project

Running head: THE STATION NIGHTCLUB FIRE 1

The station nightclub fire of 2003

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Abstract

Nightclub fires have been a common phenomenon in the past that has led to numerous deaths. The station nightclub fire is one such fire that resulted in the death of many people, injured several and resulted in post traumatic stress disorder to the survivors. The paper below is a compilation of the causes of the fire, the outcomes and the philosophical significance of the incident.

The Station Nightclub Fire is among the deadliest nightclub fires ever witnessed in New England. This is because of the death toll and the contributing factors that led to the death of so many people. This was among the fires that were highly unlikely to be preventable as the things that caused the fire were all necessary for the particular show at the nightclub to be successful.

On that night the station night club was a host of revelers who had come to witness the Great White band perform. According to Barylick (2012), the club was admonished with pyrotechnics and gerbs used in clubs to set off sparks in the middle of the entertainment that would late be the cause of the death of so many in the night club. The club had four exits which were to be used in case of such a fire.

When the band started playing their opening song, pyrotechnics ignited acoustic foams which were located on both sides and top of the stage where the band was performing. The position of the gerbs enabled the fire to catch on fast as they were located all around the club (Mervis, 2005). Additionally, the acoustic foam was in two layers and though it was hard to ignite, after ignition it caught on fire so fast. After the fire had started, the entire club was engulfed in black smoke and carbon monoxide meaning that people were unable to breathe and could not see where to run to.

After the fire at the nightclub, the Governor set a law against the use of pyrotechnics in venues that hold more than 300 people for whatever reason. This was to heighten safety and reduce the possibility of too many injuries.

This fire has a questionable angle to it as from witness’s accounts, a bouncer blocked one exit, and he declared that the exit was only to be used by band members only (Bellemore, 2012). This brings to question the philosophical worth of revelers over that of the band members. It should be noted that everyone is worth rescuing and neither the club owners nor the band members are too important than the revelers.

Finally, this fire was indeed preventable, and there could have been many things that could have been done to prevent it. The events led to so many deaths, but as a result, there were policies that got formulated to stop a similar event. Nightclub fires mean that everyone in the club is important and the authorities should take note of that.

Reference Page

Barylick, J. (2012). Killer show: The Station nightclub fire, America's deadliest rock concert.

Hanover: University Press of New England.

Bellemore, M. (2012). The night the music ended: The Station Nightclub: March 2000-February

2003. West Warwick, R.I: Merry Blacksmith Press. 

Mervis, .S (2005). "After the fire: Great White, survivors live with the horror of Rhode Island tragedy". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.