Swiss Nightclub Fire

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nobbie48

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I don't have any inside info on the tragedy but I got the impression the party was in a basement down a slightly narrow stairway. While not confirmed, someone may have been carrying a Champaign bottle with sparklers that ignited flammables. Forty dead and one hundred and thirteen injured, many with third degree burns.

These are rare events but not unheard of. Does anyone here look around at a venue when they go in, checking for exits?

If I do it's for convenience when leaving, not safety.

I once had a Swiss pen pal and got the impression they were ahead of us on building inspections, houses done yearly.

Here the fire marshal's office determines room capacity and fire loading (Combustible materials). Who stays on top of the rules after?
 
I remember the Christmas tree accident in Quebec years ago when a real tree went up at a town hall when a drunk lite it thinking it would be funny and several perished . My dad taught me to check for escape routes , he was a super paranoid guy . I look for normal doors and where the option may be if there is a panic . I’m ok with being paranoid.
Rip to all in that Swiss basement, what a horrible way to pass .


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nobbie48 said:
I don't have any inside info on the tragedy but I got the impression the party was in a basement down a slightly narrow stairway. While not confirmed, someone may have been carrying a Champaign bottle with sparklers that ignited flammables. Forty dead and one hundred and thirteen injured, many with third degree burns.

These are rare events but not unheard of. Does anyone here look around at a venue when they go in, checking for exits?

If I do it's for convenience when leaving, not safety.

I once had a Swiss pen pal and got the impression they were ahead of us on building inspections, houses done yearly.

Here the fire marshal's office determines room capacity and fire loading (Combustible materials). Who stays on top of the rules after?
Click to expand...
When I worked at a bar before, we had secondary exits that were not obvious if you weren't paying attention. Two double doors up a double staircase were the main route that everybody knew. In addition, there were two double doors on the opposite side that went directly outside and were unlocked but never opened, they were emergency only. Those normally had black curtains over them. There was a fifth door out through the managers office. We never had an evacuation but I assume that >80% of the people would use the route they came in from.

Liquor license inspections checked for proper quantity and signage for escape routes.

Sadly, there have been more than a few club fires started by pyro or open flame that was part of the spectacle.

EDIT:
The town requires annual fire safety inspections. The last one required some changes. That was in 2019. No inspection since then. Lots of blame to go around on this one. Apparently max capacity of the basement was 100 people. Given that 40 died and 116 were injured, it seems likely the bar ignored that inconvenient regulation.

toronto.citynews.ca

Fire safety inspections lapsed for years at Swiss bar where 40 died in New Year's blaze

Fire safety inspections hadn’t been carried out since 2019 at the Swiss bar where a fire at a New Year’s party left 40 people dead and over 100 injured, local authorities said Tuesday. Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire at Le...
toronto.citynews.ca toronto.citynews.ca
 
Last edited:
GreyGhost said:
When I worked at a bar before, we had secondary exits that were not obvious if you weren't paying attention. Two double doors up a double staircase were the main route that everybody knew. In addition, there were two double doors on the opposite side that went directly outside and were unlocked but never opened, they were emergency only. Those normally had black curtains over them. There was a fifth door out through the managers office. We never had an evacuation but I assume that >80% of the people would use the route they came in from.

Liquor license inspections checked for proper quantity and signage for escape routes.

Sadly, there have been more than a few club fires started by pyro or open flame that was part of the spectacle.

EDIT:
The town requires annual fire safety inspections. The last one required some changes. That was in 2019. No inspection since then. Lots of blame to go around on this one. Apparently max capacity of the basement was 100 people. Given that 40 died and 116 were injured, it seems likely the bar ignored that inconvenient regulation.

toronto.citynews.ca

Fire safety inspections lapsed for years at Swiss bar where 40 died in New Year's blaze

Fire safety inspections hadn’t been carried out since 2019 at the Swiss bar where a fire at a New Year’s party left 40 people dead and over 100 injured, local authorities said Tuesday. Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire at Le...
toronto.citynews.ca toronto.citynews.ca
Click to expand...
Total number? 40 dead and 116 injured = 156 PLUS those fortunate to get out uninjured. Total is likely over double the occupancy limit of 100.

Ticking time bombs
A friend who is very knowledgeable on fire safety and laws went to a Christmas church service with his elderly mother and got creeped out.

A very old structure with massive amounts of varnished wood inside.

Stairs at most entrances / exits

A natural Christmas tree

A choir holding real lit candles

Lots of old parishioners using canes and walkers

A refit of the building to bring it into modern codes would be in the millions and the congregation wouldn't be able to muster the finances.

The church my wife occasionally attends throws a neighbourhood lunch every once in a while. The section of the mid-century church set aside for the lunch has an occupancy limit of 50.

They count heads and close the doors.

Acoustic ceiling tiles aren't all fire rated and even if they are, the support mechanism has to meet code. They aren't going to do much good if they're held up by bits of string or plastic.

Banning stuff sounds good but consider the 14 YO bimbo that lit and fired fireworks on a TTC bus three years ago. Apparently there were more similar events.

 
backmarkerducati said:
Sadly this is not the first fire like this with acoustic foam panels...

en.wikipedia.org

Acoustic foam - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 77271

As for emergency exits, generally it was not something I would look for when out to a bar etc.
Click to expand...
The club has videos on their social media showing previous events where the same pyro show happened. Barmaid on bar dude's shoulders. Barmaid has wine bottle with while sparks pouring out the top.

This news report shows what appears to be the ceiling burning.

 
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