Long lines at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub or Rick’s American Cafe might be daunting for students looking for a fun weekend, but East Lansing officials said they should be thankful because it prevents overcrowding that could lead to dangerous incidents such as the club fire in Brazil.
A recent fire at a Brazillian night club left 235 dead, after pyrotechnics lit the building on fire and thousands raced toward a single exit, according to media reports.
East Lansing Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said before any 5establishment opens, owners must go through a thorough review process. He said the design and plans have to be approved, and construction is closely inspected.
Capacity levels and the number of required exits are determined based on the expected number of occupants and square feet, among other requirements, East Lansing Fire Department Fire Marshal Gerald Rodabaugh said.
Anthony Corwin, a host at Harper’s, said the establishment has about six open exits with about seven individuals watching them.
Rodabaugh said the fire department does about 10 inspections each year on local establishments to check for issues such as exceeding capacity and blocked exits.
Dempsey said East Lansing police also conduct liquor license inspections regularly and can cite issues at weekly meetings between the code enforcement office, the police and the fire department. Local establishments have bouncers to monitor capacity and potentially dangerous situations, he said.
“(Downtown establishments) know the importance of doing the right thing because no one wants to be part of a tragic incident,” Dempsey said.
Rodabaugh said there are large consequences for violations such as exceeding capacity, including a criminal misdemeanor for a fire code violation, which could result in up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine per person exceeding capacity. He said they might be penalized for violating local ordinances and could be charged thousands of dollars for violating liquor laws.
Dempsey and Rodabaugh both said there have not been violations requiring a citation in years. Pyrotechnics were involved in the Brazil incident, but they said establishments in East Lansing are required to gain a permit to use pyrotechnics, and one has not been issued in many years.
Students should identify multiple exits in a building because it could save their lives, Rodabaugh said.
English junior Megan Hughey said packed bars and clubs make her nervous, so she typically goes to larger bars on nights when she feels they might be crowded. She said she avoids some local bars because they have a reputation for overcrowding.
“I usually do try to locate how to get out,” Hughey said. “I try to be a cautious person.”
Staff writer Isabella Shaya contributed to this article.
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