A stampede that left 21 dead at the E2 nightclub in Chicago early Monday is raising concerns about safety at evening hot spots in Lansing and surrounding communities.
About 50 others were hospitalized after 500 patrons rushed the club's doors in panic when security guards released pepper spray, witnesses said. Reviewing what took place, authorities believed the injuries and death could have been prevented if the club's exits been more accessible.
While Chicago investigators put the pieces together, East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said the police department works closely with local bars to keep over-occupancy in check.
In keeping close watch, police officers are "in most of the bars on most of the nights," according to Pratt. And if there are troubles, officers are instructed to alert the fire department immediately.
"We've had problems in the past and we've had great cooperation from the businesses," he said.
A tragedy similar to the one in Chicago is unlikely to occur in the city and even less likely to happen at licensed establishments, Pratt said. East Lansing businesses with a capacity of more than 500 are required to have three remote exits. For smaller capacity bars serving more than 50 people, code requires two exits.
East Lansing police officer Dan DeKorte, who works with the Restaurant Hospitality Council, said patrons often "only know of one way in and one way out."
"That is why exit signs have to be illuminated," said DeKorte, who takes part in inspections of local bars to make sure no exits are blocked or chained.
Rick's American Café, 224 Abbott Road, and The Landshark, 101 E. Grand River Ave., pose a problem because they are located below street level and seem to have only one exit, DeKorte said.
"Very seldom do people use those other exits, but they are there," said DeKorte, noting the last instance of gross over-occupancy occurred in the late 1980s. "That's when the staff has to step up and direct people to the other exits."
The city is efficient in regulating bar safety, says Trisha Riley, owner of Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub. Riley's establishment has seven lit exits and employees are trained to respond and assist patrons in case of emergency.
"The city is usually fastidious about their rules and regulations," Riley said. "They are always checking things from electrical down to paint on the wall, to water on the floor."
Harper's, 131 Albert Ave., has the largest capacity of any bar in East Lansing at 500.
Jerome White, general manager of the three-level Temple Club, 500 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing's Old Town, said his club must comply with tight regulations in order to prevent trouble.
But The Temple Club, whose capacity is 700, also provides other amenities promoting safety.
"We have a public address system that is wired to all three floors," he said. "We have the ability to talk to everybody in the building at the same time and essentially calm nerves and have things work in a more orderly fashion."
If, on the chance a chemical were to be released in the club, White said the air filtration system would suck out all of the club's air and replace it with fresh air from outside the club in a matter of minutes.
Since it opened, the Temple Club has had no need to execute an emergency exit, nor has it received over-occupancy violations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Casey McNenly can be reached at mcnenlyc@msu.edu.
