Posted on: Wednesday, March 12, 2003

EDITORIAL
Fire safety in clubs no bureaucratic issue

While many of the infractions were relatively minor, it is still disturbing that the Honolulu Fire Department found fire code violations in 16 of 19 nightclubs it recently inspected. The increased scrutiny was prompted by a terrible fire at a Rhode Island nightclub in which 99 people died.

At this point, the Fire Department says it will give the clubs time to fix minor problems and apply for necessary permits before moving to the next enforcement step: citations that could lead to criminal charges or fines.

This process should not be allowed to languish. The raw fact is that the vast majority of places inspected had violations that could threaten the safety of their patrons. More inspections are planned.

Particularly worrisome were three clubs that did not have the necessary permits to host large crowds. This is not a mere paperwork matter. The permits for these larger "assemblies" are granted only after the club can demonstrate that it has the resources to handle the big crowds safely.

The good news is that the Fire Department is willing to work with clubs, restaurants and other venues to make their premises safe for their patrons. Every club in town should take advantage of those services and make the necessary changes now.

The last thing Honolulu needs is a tragedy to make us aware of the importance of fire safety.