Introduction
Nobody would have predicted it, but at 8.50 pm on May 28, 1977, a horrendous fire gutted the Beverly Hills Supper club in the USA (Kenning 2000). The club was a one-story building that stood on a 1.5-acre plot. The same building hosted a popular restaurant and nightclub (Cincinnati). Beverly Hills Supper club was a swarm of activities that night. Among other functions, it was hosting a dog club, a bank league, and a choral union.
Aside from the meetings, John Davidson, a well-known entertainer, was to present a long-awaited show (Kenning 2008). It was, therefore, no wonder that the club was hosting so many revelers, estimated at 2,400 according to ‘Emmons.’ Sadly, at the end of the fire, which was considered the third deadliest in the US history, one hundred and sixty-five lives had been lost, and scores of people were injured (Kenning 2000).
The Cause of fire
It was claimed that the fire outbreak was caused by an electrical fault (Colombia 2007). Witnesses said that the fire started in a combustible concealed space in an unoccupied room and continued unnoticed for a long time. However, it was claimed that in spite of noticing the fire, the staff failed to inform the people in the building and the fire department in time. Instead, they tried in vain to put out the fire using fire extinguishers (Kenning, 2008). They only called the fire brigade ten minutes after the fire had been noticed, at which point tye the fire had done most of the destruction (Kenning 2008). The building’s structure was also culpable, as its combustible finishes reportedly enhanced the spread of the fire (Emmons).
The use of aluminum wiring was said to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire (Kenning 2008). Most of the deaths were caused by the inhalation of toxic fumes produced by the burning of the plastic covering of the aluminum wires. The spread of the fire was worsened by the absence of a sprinkler system, alarms, and proper exits (Kenning 2008). Kenning reports that at one exit, 99 people died. Although the fire department managed to put out the fire, it was after the building had been razed down (Cincinnati). Five hundred and twenty-two firefighters participated in the firefighting and rescue operation (Kenning 2008).
Lessons learned
The fire tragedy was a turning point for the US industry. The information gathered in the event of the fire gave good insight into the fire protection standards that are in place today. One of the lessons learned was the importance of building design. At the club, there were no fire exits. The exits that were in place were too small to allow a large number of panicking patrons to get out of the building in time (Emmons). Moreover, the club had no signs to indicate emergency exit points. Although the largest room in the club held about 1200 people on that fateful day, there were too few exists for them to escape when the fire started (Emmons). As a result, the majority of those who died were in the fire were from that room.
Another vital lesson from the fire was the importance of an early warning system. A busboy working at the club had alerted the patrons on the fire and as a result, saved many lives (Colombia 2007). There was no audible alarm with which to alert all occupants of the building. Some of the patrons reported that they did not take the busboy’s warning seriously (Kenning 2008). Thus, many lives were lost because among other factors, the fire alarm was inaudible.
The importance of the fire department was appreciated after this fire. It is the revelation that the club’s staff should have called the department at the fire’s onset dawned on them. More lives could probably have been saved had they done so. The fire instilled the importance of fire training of staff in any building (Emmons). This is a point that will help staffs to deal adequately with any emergency that arises. The fire prompted the introduction of mandatory installation of fire alarm and detection systems in public buildings (Colombia 2007). The use of combustible interior finishes was prohibited in newly formulated safety regulations (Kenning 2008).
Implications on society and fire protection engineering
The fire had far-reaching implications on society and fire protection engineering. The busboy who sounded the alarm to the patron still wonders if he should have to be more urgent in warning people to calmly; leave the building (Kenning 2008). Riesenberg, the fire marshal at the time resigned from his job a year later. He began drinking and divorced his wife. The day of the fire still haunts him to this day. Stallings, a survivor of the fire, suffered anxiety and depression. To this day she avoids crowds and always sits near the exit in public buildings (Kenning 2008). The fire had far-reaching psychological effects on the different people who were involved in it.
The fire had traumatic effects on the lives it affected. Many lost their loved ones and they had to go through the trauma of identifying the remains of their loved ones in a temporary morgue opened in a nearby gymnasium (Cincinnati). The fire emphasized the need for trauma counseling for those who are affected by such strategies (Kenning 2008). Kenning reports that the survivor, volunteers, and every person who was party to the fire find it hard to shake the memory of that night off their minds. The importance of volunteer firefighters was suddenly seen in this fire (Kenning 2008). Most of the people who came in to assist in putting out the fire and rescuing people were volunteers.
The introduction of evacuation plans in all buildings in cases of any emergency was a result of the fire (Colombia 2007). If the staff at the club had been trained for such an emergency and an evacuation plan put in place, many lives could have been saved. The fire is an important case study into how human behavior can influence the decisions made in emergency cases. It was a case of humanity, as the wait staff helped patrons get out of the building (Colombia 2007).
The aftermath of the fire resulted in the introduction of new fire safety regulations and the improvement of existing ones (Cincinnati). The new regulations saw the introduction of automatic fire suppression systems and emergency planning i.e. evacuation systems and fire alarms (Colombia 2007). These measures were aimed at boosting fire safety. The National Fire Protection Association ordered the installation of sprinkler systems in all public buildings holding at least 300 people (Kenning 2008). Changes were also made in the building code. The new codes had uniform standards set for safety doors, emergency exits, and building materials including wiring (Kenning 2008).
The court cases following the fire caused a revolution in class action litigation. According to Kaufmann, the era of enterprise liability began with the court action that took place after the fire. Enterprise liability is a legal action where individual entities can be jointly held liable for some action. In this case, the club owners along with the wiring manufacturers among others were held liable for the fire (Kaufman).
Conclusion
Looking at past mistakes can help people avoid a repeat of the mistakes, though to err is human. Although lives were lost and people were traumatized by the Beverly Hill supper club fire, some good has come out of it. The lessons learned from the fire have translated into strict regulations being set up that will save lives in the future (Kaufman). Tragedy always offers a chance to learn something new. The losses that resulted due to the fire are a lesson that the mistakes should not be repeated.
Reference
Cincinnati Enquirer. (1997) The fire still rages. Web.
Colombia South University. (2007).Thirty years later: The Beverly Hills Super Club fire. Web.
Emmons Howard. (n.d) The analysis of a tragedy. Harvard University. Web.
Kenning Chris. (2008). Fire that claimed 165 lives is seared into memories. Courier journal. Web.
Kaufman L Ben (n.d) Litigation bulldozed traditional court routes Cincinnati enquirer.