Over the Limit

A nightclub can be its own worst enemy if its owners have a difficult time turning paying customers away. A business owner looks at a door as a way for paying customers to get in. A fire inspector looks at a door as a way for people to get out in case of emergency.

Just last year, a fire swept through a packed, popular nightclub in Brazil, killing at least 233 people. Many patrons died from smoke inhalation. Others were trampled in the rush for the exits. About 2,000 people were inside the club when the fire broke out -- double the maximum capacity of 1,000.

Montgomery Fire/Rescue Chief Investigator Mark Williams said that during a state

of panic, people are rushing out of the door and sometimes get stuck or fall down and cause a jam at the door. “As people continue try to get out they begin to climb over people and eventually the means of egress is impassable,” he said.

Chief Williams said Montgomery Fire/Rescue conducts hundreds of unannounced night club inspections each year. If a club is found to be overcrowded, the business is immediately shut down for 16 hours. The owner is given a summons to court and if found guilty, he or she must attend a City Council meeting to explain why the club was overcrowded. For the first violation, the Council may suspend the club’s business license for 10 days. If the club is found to be overcrowded again within the same year, the Council may revoke its license. Fines can vary, but the standard fee is $500 plus court costs

“This year we have only had to shut down one club. In the years past the problem was much worse but through enforcement efforts the issue has gotten much better,” Chief Williams said.

Business owners and city officials alone cannot prevent nightclub fires and other accidents. They also need help from the patrons themselves. If a place seems overcrowded, get out. You could be putting yourself in danger by hanging around in a club that is full beyond its capacity. If you believe a club is over its occupancy rate, call 911 and report the problem.

Chief Williams said it is always good to look at your surroundings and be familiar with where all the exits are located. “We are creatures of habit and we tend to want to exit the same way we go into a building. Have a plan in case you have to exit due to an emergency,” he said.