Brazil Nightclub Fire: Did the World Not Learn From R.I.'s Tragedy?
The fire in Brazil that killed hundreds Sunday is a painful reminder of the 2003 Station nightclub fire.
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Today Rhode Island's eyes are on the tragedy of the Brazil nightclub fire, which is a painful experience of deja-vu for the state.
A fire tore through the Kiss nightclub in Brazil Sunday morning has killed more than 200 people and left 120 injured, reports CNN. The Brazil nightclub was allegedly packed with more than 2000 people, double its capacity.
The story has startling similarities to February 2003, when a fire resulting from Great White's use of pyrotechnics at The Station nightclub in West Warwick resulted in 100 deaths, and 230 injured.
There are reports that the Brazil nightclub's insulation foam ignited the fire. The pyrotechnics used at The Station set fire to flammable soundproofing foam that lined the walls and ceiling.
Concertgoers pushed and shoved, in a frantic attempt to get out of the Brazil nightclub, similar to the heart-wrenching stories we still hear from survivors of the 2003 fire.
Since the nightclub fire, Rhode Island has introduced laws to avoid a similar tragedy: sprinkler systems in businesses, regulations on pyrotechnics, and enforcement of capacity laws.
Ten years later, as we watch the story of the Brazil nightclub fire unfold, what are your thoughts? Why didn't the world learn from our tragedy?
@Home_in_EG
2:53 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I can remember when I was in 6th grade living in Brazil and going to an indoor club type thing with my parents and many other families for Carnival, which is like Mardi Gras on steriods... They were throwing paper confetti everywhere, sparklers were being held by participants and then when done they would throw their sparklers as well as cigarettes on the ground, too drunk to remember to stamp them out. There were probably 3 or 4 small fires that started in the confetti immediately around us during the course of the night that were eventually stamped out by feet, fairly nonchalantly as though it was a common occurence... and then they would just continue on partying and throwing down their cigarettes like nothing happened
My parents & I were petrified the whole time and wanted to leave, but we were the guest of another (partying) family and they were having too much fun to notice my parents concern.
That was 1979.
I am amazed it has taken this long....
Jim
6:51 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Did Rhode Island learn from the 1981 Stardust dance fire in Dublin Ireland?? Until we get rid of the cultural attitude that fire, health and safety regulations are just a nuisance we keep repeating tragedies like this.