The law is in response to the nightclub blaze in Rhode Island that claimed 100 lives and injured 200 others.
By: Linda Seida
NEW HOPE Indoor pyrotechnics of any sort are now banned in the borough in an effort to prevent a nightclub fire similar to the fatal blaze in Rhode Island in February.
Council President Richard Hirschfield was in Massachusetts Feb. 20 when the nightclub blaze at The Station in West Warwick, R.I., claimed 100 lives and injured almost 200 other people.
Upon coming home, he immediately met with Fire Marshal Fred Williamson to check on the status of recent inspections in New Hope. He also wanted to know if there was any law on the borough’s books that would prohibit indoor fireworks, which was the cause of the blaze at The Station.
The band Great White was using pyrotechnics on stage when soundproofing material caught fire. It was the deadliest fire in the United States since a fire caused by defective wiring broke out in 1977 at a Kentucky supper club and killed 165 people.
Among the deadliest nightclub fires was a blaze at the Cocoanut Grove in Boston in 1942 when 492 were killed. The fire reportedly started when a teen-busboy who tried to change a light bulb in the dark lounge struck a match to find the socket, and the grass Polynesian decorations caught fire. The fire led to major changes in the nation’s fire codes regarding fire exits and emergency exit lights.
Even though the Rhode Island fire occurred almost three months ago, the tragedy was fresh in the minds of borough officials when they passed the new ordinance and tried to forestall a similar disaster from taking place here where nightspots are popular with both tourists and natives alike.
Mr. Hirschfield characterized the new ordinance banning indoor pyrotechnics as "just a preventive measure" in the best interest of public safety.
"We have quite a few old buildings. God forbid they ever get a fire," he said.
New Hope Fire Marshal Fred Williamson said of the new ordinance, "It just shows some proactive wisdom on the part of the council. It was really a no-brainer. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It’s just way, way too much of a possible detriment," especially in a town where the buildings are so old.
He and Mr. Hirschfield agreed the new ordinance banning indoor pyrotechnics is among the first and possibly the first to be passed in the country by a small town.
Police Chief Rick Pasqualini also felt a need for such a measure as a result of the Rhode Island blaze as well as a stampede in a Chicago nightspot that occurred a few days before and resulted in the deaths of 21 people. Officials there said the stampede started when pepper spray was used to break up an altercation at the E2 nightclub.
"After the two tragedies, one in Chicago and one in Rhode Island, I met with the fire marshal and also with the mayor and council president, and we had a discussion," the chief said. "As a result, we formulated a plan to check the volumes in these clubs on the weekends, and obviously the pyrotechnics came up. This is just a measure to avoid any problems we might have."
The response from club owners in the borough has been "nothing but positive," according to Mr. Hirschfield.
"It gives them something, too," he said. "It gives them a weapon as well. We can be the bad guy; they don’t have to be the bad guy. If a band wants to set off fireworks, they can say, ‘It’s against the law.’"
The fine for using pyrotechnics or fireworks indoors is $1,000 for the first offense. Second and subsequent offenses will result in a $2,000 fine.

