Many of the most deadly fires of buildings occurred in nightclubs. This is why they are so risky

A fire at the nightclub in North Macedonia killed at least 59 people and wounded over 150. at the Pulse Night Club in KočaniWhere About 500 people They participated in the concert.

Witnesses reported that the pyrotechnics used during the performance the ceiling litcausing the flames to spread quickly.

The authorities arrested 20 people so farIn this club manager. Investigations are ongoing. The North Macedonian government announced a seven -day period of mourning.

Although building fires are not circumscribed to nightclubs, many of the most destructive fires of buildings in history took place in night clubs around the world. So why are nightclubs such a risky place of fatal fires?

Long history of fires at the nightclub

Looking at fires at the nightclub shows how universal and fatal they have been over the past 100 years. We identified at least 24 fires of the Night Club, in which ten or more people died from 1940.

In total, these 24 incidents constitute at least 2,800 deaths, of almost 1,300 in the 21st century.

. Growve cocoanut fire (Boston, 1942) remains the most deadly in records, killing 492 people. The club’s flammable decorations and closed outputs turned to the usual night One of the worst fire disasters in history.

In Argentina Cromañón Fire Republic He killed 194 people in 2004, caused by pyrotechnics incending flammable materials in the club.

Kiss of the Night Club of Kiss In Brazil in 2013 it was even more deadly, claiming that 242 was alive.

Recently, Thailand of Fire at the nightclub B He killed 23 people in 2022

In 2023. 13 people died in a fire in Fonda Milagros Night Club in Spain.

Now the Pulse Pulse North Macedonia Night Club joins this long list.

Why are nightclubs so risky for fires?

A review of fires from the previous night club, which they collected in our database, reveals common patterns. Two key factors have contributed to the frequency and severity of these fire crashes.

1. Pyrotechnics, fireworks and flammable materials

One of the most common causes of fires at the nightclub was Pyrotechnics in closed spaces. Pyrotechnics They are controlled chemical reactions designed to produce flames, smoke or lithe effects.

They were involved in at least six most deadly fires at the Night Club, including in the last heat of the Pulse Night Club in northern Macedonia, as well Station (United States, 2003), Kiss (Brazil, 2013), Collective (Romania, 2015), Lame (Russia, 2009) i Cromañón Republic (Argentina, 2004).

Pyrotechnica can easily light flammable ceiling materialsIN Acoustic foamor decorations.

In some cases, fireworks – which differ from stage pyrotechnics and sometimes illegally used in the room – played a role. . Ball fire at the nightclubwho killed 156 people in Russia in 2009, was caused by a spark of fireworks incending a low ceiling covered with flammable plastic decorations.

Even when fires do not start with pyrotechnics or fireworks, Materials used in the interiors of the Night Club It can quickly transform a petite fire into a sedate disaster.

Foam insulation, wooden paneling, plastic decorations and carpet walls were Key factors in the previous nightclub. At Cocoanut Grove (Boston, 1942), Artificial palm trees And other flammable decorations have accelerated fire.

2. Stretch and blocked or insufficient outputs

Evacuation failures were a factor of almost every enormous fire at the nightclub.

In some cases, crowds can not immediately recognize the severity of the situation, especially if they confuse alarms with false alarms or special effects (for example, smoke machines, thunderous music).

In addition, patrons may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Poisoning in combination with potential confusion due to DIM lighting can further reduce the assessment during evacuation.

Apparently, the best way to protect patrons is primarily to prevent fire. But in the settings in which the risk of fire is high by nature, ability Quickly evacuate people is crucial.

However, nightclubs have penniless achievements Evacuation security measures.

Night clubs belong to the most crowded internal spaces. While the density of the crowd is part of the project and atmosphere of the nightclub, overpopulation beyond legal capacity is common.

The crowd, which gradually accumulated for several hours, must suddenly evacuate in a few seconds or minutes to survive the fire. This hinders narrow corridors and circumscribed outputs that They quickly become a bottleneck When hundreds of people try to escape immediately.

What’s more, not all outputs are always available during a fire. In several night buckles, Closed or difficult emergency outputs They significantly worsened the number of fatalities.

Risk minimization

Night clubs are extremely susceptible to fires due to a combination of structural risk, risky materials, overpopulation and regulatory failures.

One sec human behavior It plays a role in how extensive fires in circumscribed spaces, such as nightclubs, people should be able to go for the evening and expect a unthreatening return home.

Adjusting supervision must ensure strict compliance with fire codes. Places should have fire suppressing systems (such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors) to control or contain fires before spreading, and appropriate outputs.

Night clubs should prohibit pyrotechnics and fireworks, because history has repeatedly shown fatal consequences.

Capacity limits should be enforced, and the emergency outputs should always be available.

Australia has Strict fire safety regulations for nightclubswith places requiring fire suppression systems, emergency outputs and trained staff for fire risk management.

Public awareness It is also key. Patrons must understand the real risk of fires in nightclubs and be prepared for quick evacuation, but serene if danger occurs.