Fire safety relies on the vigilance of all

More than 100 revelers at clubs in Chicago and Rhode Island would be alive today if basic safety precautions had been observed.

In the two tragedies that recently took place within a few days of each other in crowded nightclubs, safety was ignored. Safety is disregarded on a daily basis in a variety of situations, but in these cases more than 100 people died who didn't have to.

In both cases -- in nightclubs in Chicago and West Warwick, R.I. -- those responsible for safety did not do their jobs.

The owners of the Chicago nightclub E2, where 21 people died after a fight prompted a stampede to the front door, did not follow a court order from last summer that barred the use of the second floor of the nightclub building due to housing code violations, including poorly marked exits.

In Rhode Island, a rock band used pyrotechnics in a small venue, which caused a fire where almost 100 people died and 190 others were injured.

There has been much debate about whether the club owner's had permitted the band to use fireworks, but it was an ill-advised move regardless.

Hindsight offers little comfort to families of dead and injured, who are still struggling with grief. Those families will soon start to look for, according to some estimates, $1 billion of compensation through lawsuits.

For the rest of us, there might be peace of mind.

As with most tragedies, some small amount of public good can come from these tragic events. Municipalities across the country can learn from what happened and already are taking steps to make sure their own safety measures are being obeyed.

People cannot be predispositioned to not panic in life-threatening situations. Knowing that, cities and club owners should take every step possible to make sure their venues are safe. Chicago's fire department has already stepped up club inspections, finding a handful of violations such as unlit exit signs and blocked rear doors.

Other places are taking heed as well, wanting to make sure that things like that never happen in their communities. A quick check of news sites show that places like Reno, Nev.; Hampton Roads, Va.; New York; and New Orleans are stepping up inspections. The list goes on.

What inspectors look for varies by community, but there are common themes.

For example, fire extinguishers should be accessible to patrons, not just club employees, meaning extinguishers should be visible throughout the venue. Exits should be clearly marked, kept clear and well lit. Sprinkler systems aren't always required, but they are always a good idea.

What happened in those two clubs should serve as a wake-up call to club owners and municipalities across the country. They will be held responsible and code inspectors are going to be watching more closely.

In every case, we should fight fire with vigilance.