AGENDA #6c

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager       

 

FROM:            Daniel Jones, Fire Chief           

 

SUBJECT:       Bar and Night Club Inspections

 

DATE:             April 2, 2003

 

 

This report addresses the question of what the Chapel Hill Fire Department currently does to promote fire safety in bars and nightclubs.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Currently, the Life Safety Division of the Chapel Hill Fire Department conducts routine inspections of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and all other assembly occupancies on an annual basis in compliance with State mandated requirements for frequency of inspections.

 

In addition to the annual inspection, we also conduct inspections for life safety compliance at various times throughout the year. For example, we conduct inspections on Halloween night, and during certain sports events, such as Duke at Carolina basketball games, ACC Tournament games, NCAA tournament games and high interest UNC home football games. We also attempt to maintain contact with sources that help us determine when other events may create conditions that create a special need for supplemental unannounced, random inspections.

 

We also conduct same day inspections anytime we receive information or complaints about potential life safety fire hazards in any occupancy.  Such complaints may come from citizens, police officers or as anonymous tips from employees of regulated establishments.  Records of all inspections and complaint investigations are maintained by the Fire Department Life Safety Division and these records are public record and open to examination.

 

We currently are working with the Police Department, Inspections Department and the Chamber of Commerce to present a workshop for bar and club owners/managers about fire and life safety hazards and practices.  The workshop is scheduled for April 8, 2003.  The Police Department also has twice-a-year briefings for bar and club managers and employees where, in addition to alcohol regulation compliance, they also provide life safety information about hazards of overcrowding and the need to maintain clear exits.

 

DISCUSSION

 

We believe that our current practice of conducting unannounced, random inspections during events where large attendance is anticipated deters many problems.

 

Some communities around the country that have high concentrations of bars and clubs (university communities or tourism-based communities) conduct inspections more frequently in entertainment establishments, but we would need additional fire inspectors in the Life Safety Division to perform inspections at a quarterly frequency.

 

Generally, bars and clubs in Chapel Hill are cooperative and conscientious about compliance with life safety regulations, but we must maintain an enforcement presence to prevent dangerous conditions and practices from developing.