Who Is To Blame For The Fire That KILLED 96 People.

Who do you think is to blame for the fire
that killed 96
 people and hurt so many others?
1. My feelings are the band/roadies are the most at blame. The
reason I feel this way is because they of all people should have known the
limits of there own equipment. The responsibility of such things as the
placement of each pyro-base on the stage belongs to the operator of such
equipment. The flames should not have been able to reach the back wall if they
were placed right and also adjusted right.
   Knowing the height and duration of the "flame" from the
pyro-base is the responsibility of the pyro tech (person who sets them off,
normally the lighting crew or sound crew). The base "does" have an adjustment
also to lower or raise the display. In some cases the control panel for the
display has duration and flame height control. This control panel sits back by
the sound board and uses a snake-line to control the bases on the stage.
Sometimes the light display control panel has the pyro feature built right into
the control board. I saw 5 displays bases in the video.  2 on either side
of the rear of the stage set to shoot straight up. One in the front center set
to shoot up and out and 2 on either side of the front center angled to shoot up
and left and right.
   The two bases at the rear of the stage were "clearly" right
up against the back wall that was made of sound proofing cork or egg case cork.
(Highly flammable stuff). The person or persons who set them in place on the
floor was clearly not thinking of the danger of fire and may have forgot to set
the flame levels also. Also, using a pyro-tech display on a stage with such a low
ceiling in an old wooden building to boot shows total irresponsibility and lack
of concern for the safety of others. I feel the band and crew should take the
blunt of the blame.
2. The club owners and staff are responsible for the
safety of it's patrons. They should have been aware of what the band was
bringing to "there" stage. They should have done a visual inspection of the
equipment and stage prier to the onset of the show. After all, they knew the
place was going to be packed with people. Also, why did the staff or owners not
hurry and open emergency doors? was it because the doors were locked to keep
people from entering?. Did they even have a fire plan that was discussed with
the staff as well.
3. How many will have to die before we "use" information we know happens
in a fire such as in this club before we make changes. How long have we known
that human nature is to try and exit the same door you entered. How long before
we understand that in a fire the room fills with black dark smoke and that exit
signs "above" doorways "can't" be seen nor can emergency lighting. Did we know
that people drop to the floor to be able to get air. Did we know that the floor
is dark because of the smoke and that people become disoriented because they
can't see. Did we know that some people go into shock and can't move and could
block the way for others. The answer is YES!!!!!but little changes have been
done to account for this information.



[Edited on 29-11-2002 by Skeptical Believer]

I think it was a combination of both the band's fault as well as the club's fault. Its horrible to think of it this way but all sides lost-- one of the 96 was the band's guitarist (although he is currently "missing") and the club ownership lost their business entirely.

guitarist is most likely dead. :-(

It's the club owners fault. They said it was ok to use the pyrotechnics when the owner didn't have the right to tell them they could. And I feel bad for the people, but at least this wasn't like the chicago club. These people had a reason to panic and trample innocents.

The chicago was full of morons. A little pepper spray and they act like it's people shooting at them. "Oh NO! It's pepper! Run!!!" I swear, that one was the idiot's faults(the people) and not the club. This one was the club owner who said they could use the pyros. I now hear that the club owner didn't give them persission. But they did. On the first reports were that the owner gave them permission, wasn't till later that they started saying no, we didn't give them permission.

Skeptical Believer made some good points, however I believe that the owners gave permission. Even though they are crying and denying it to the media. Other bands claimed that (they too) got permission to use pyrotechnics in that club. The owners grief appeared forced and lame.

Its the clubs fault 100%....think of it this way...If someone walks into your house, place of business..and starts to set up any thing..You have a obligation to protect you faimly(if its your house) or your buisness and its patrans.....Its simple the club is responsalbe for the poeple while they are on there property.....It sucks i know..and as a Fire Fighter i can only imagine what those Fire Fighters went through..nothing hurts them more then not being able to help someone....

Boomslang