Most of us are familiar with the saying that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This is paraphrased from the writings of George Santayana, and it serves as a reminder and warning to us that we'd be wise to take note of what has happened in the past and learn from it. A wise person will look at mistakes made and take steps not to make those same ones. In the past, there have been several notable fires that have occurred in the U.S., and from these outcomes, we can learn what things to avoid to make sure we don't make those same mistakes.
The fire at Station Night Club in West Warwick, R.I. back in 2003 is one of those notable fires we can learn from. This was a significant fire as it caused extensive damage and devastating injuries and loss of life. That fateful night at Station Night Club, a live band was using fireworks as part of the show. During the performance, foam insulation that was used over and around the staging area caught fire, and the nightclub began to go up in flames. The flames quickly traveled from the insulation to the ceiling, creating a huge swell of smoke. As a result, the crowds, in sheer terror, raced for the door. In all, 100 people lost their lives and 230 more suffered injuries.
As we look at the cause of this fire, we can learn a few things that we can apply to fire prevention. The decorations in this nightclub were not flame resistant or fireproofed. Here in NY, curtains, drapes, hangings, and decorations need to be properly fireproofed. If this nightclub would have adequately flameproofed the items inside, the spread of the fire could have been drastically slowed or even prevented entirely, which likely could have saved many lives.
Additionally, there was no automatic fire sprinkler system installed in this nightclub. That also could have slowed down the spreading of the fire. Not only that, the nightclub didn't have adequate exit signs for alternative egress. As a result, the panicked crowd rushed for the main entrance, creating a blockage at the door and not allowing patrons to safely escape. While not overcrowded, the nightclub was full to capacity, which made a safe exit through just one entrance area very unlikely.
At Certified Flameproofing, we see very clearly from this example that proper fireproofing could have made the difference between life and death. The fire at the Station Night Club could have been prevented entirely or at least slowed down if the curtains, drapes and other decorations had been properly treated with flame repellents. The importance of having items in a building establishment treated with fire retardants cannot be over-emphasized. The lives of customers and patrons could literally depend on this one action.
Please call us at Certified Flamerproofing for your fireproofing needs. We serve the Metro New York City area, and we are a premiere flameproofing outfit. We would be happy to discuss with you a plan to properly, safely, and legally flameproof your business. Call us today for a free, no-obligation estimate: 800-590-5530