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This is how fast a fire can spread...The Station Night Club Fire 2003
- Thread starter easynow
- Start date
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
That is truly harrowing like all such events. I don't even want to guess how many people died in there.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
Just looked it up. Horrible.
Rowdey
Well-known member
By 2min 30, i'm amazed that anybody more than about 2 meters from an exit made it.
The fact that people were pulling others out from the crush at the doors must have meant that only 100 people died that night. Surely could have been much worse..
The fact that people were pulling others out from the crush at the doors must have meant that only 100 people died that night. Surely could have been much worse..
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,221
You only have to watch the footage of the Bradford fire to realise how quickly it spreads once alight.
Yoda
English & European
Nibble
New member
- Jan 3, 2007
- 19,238
Just been watching survivors accounts that did.
Can't watch that so close to bed but I can imagine.
Charlies Shinpad
New member
They show that in our fire fighting course down here in Plymouth
Still horrific every time I see it
surrey jim
Not in Surrey
Was just about to look up that video. Horrific scenes.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
As part of my fire training we saw a video of a night club fire in the UK. It involved polystyrene roof tiles, which ignited, and the fire spread rapidly along the ceiling, showering everyone in burning molten polystyrene. Also, the smoke killed people incredibly quickly.
Seagull over Canaryland
Well-known member
Sounds like you saw footage of the reconstruction of the Stardust Disco fire in Dublin in the '80s which is on YouTube and shows the area where the fire started was fully involved in fire within seconds. The speed of development even took the scientists by surprise and their test rig was badly damaged too.
The tragedies at Stardust, The Station Night club, The Top Storey Club and the Coconut Grove are all examples of why licensing regulations for clubs are so strict because they are used by punters whose senses are relaxed by drink, darkness, loud music all within a confined space, often in basements with loads of electrical equipment, soft furnishings, wall coverings that have a bearing on how rapidly a fire will spread and what sort of smoke will be given off. Hence the need for owners to strictly comply with standards and then ensure the maximum permitted numbers are not exceeded and staff are well trained to react swiftly should an emergency occur and initiate an evacuation without causing panic.
The Bradford City video is a graphic training aid but being an open fronted football stand with seating and stand decking largely constructed of wood does not give the same impression of how rapid fire and smoke spread occurs within a fully enclosed structure like a night club or public entertainment venue with synthetic furnishings like at Stardust. Bradford was compounded by very narrow exit routes and locked gates at the rear of the stand, otherwise many more punters should have escaped. However Bradford is a good example of human factors in emergencies, most punters safely escaped but too many punters failed to recognise and react quickly to imminent danger and all while stewards and Police are present.
When people complain about how sanitised footie stadia are becoming should not forget Bradford, Hillsborough etc. But they are different environments to night clubs which are rightly to be enjoyed but maybe with a bit more caution.
The good news is that the smoking ban in public buildings means the chances of fires is now significantly reduced, but no reason to be complacent.