More than 100 people died when a fire broke out in a Russian club last week and, sadly, the event brings an interesting question to light – are we so dense as to not learn from the mistakes of others?
The deaths of so many come on the heels of pending litigation caused as a result of the 2003 fire at the Station nightclub in Rhode Island back in 2003. The blaze was caused when pyrotechnic materials lit soundproofing materials on fire. Dozens died in the stampede out the only available door and many others were stuck in the back where there were no alternate exits.
So why, in Russia, were the windows of the second floor club covered with metal rods? Why didn’t Russian authorities force compliance with simple fire hazard regulations? We may never know – but we’ll certainly hear a lot about it as the legal proceedings move forward.