If we learn anything from two recent nightclub tragedies that killed 118 people, it should be that everyone -- safety officials, club owners and patrons -- plays an important role in preventing such deadly situations. Twenty-one died in a stampede at a Chicago nightclub, and 97 perished in a Rhode Island club fire. In both cases, the clubs were in violation of building codes or fire safety regulations.

In Chicago, the nightclub illegally opened a second floor that had been closed by the city. Officials admitted that they had not notified police of the closing or informed the public that the club was unsafe. Yet that's no excuse for nightclub owners to choose greed over safety. In Rhode Island, illegal pyrotechnics used by a band set the ceiling and walls on fire. Band members and the owners are blaming each other, and the owners are suspected of using highly flammable acoustic tiles that are inappropriate for a nightclub.

Safety officials in the Tampa Bay area should be concerned that similar tragedies could happen here, and it should motivate them to review their operations. It is not uncommon for nightclubs to admit more patrons than their permits allow, or even to lock exits in an effort to stop thievery or unauthorized entry. And nightclubs often are found in older buildings that may be poorly designed for large, intoxicated crowds. Existing laws are probably sufficient to protect patrons, but only if local officials are aggressive in enforcing them. They should make examples of the most egregious violators.

St. Petersburg Fire Marshal Jim Large said his inspectors have dropped in on city nightclubs recently. A couple of those clubs had more patrons than their permits allowed. They were given warnings and quickly complied, he said.

But the volume of work (more than 8,000 commercial businesses in the city) makes it difficult for fire personnel to do full inspections more frequently than every two years, Large said. That means the city relies on complaints from patrons and compliance by owners. "Education and personal responsibility are the best tools for us," Large said.

Nightclub owners are now in the spotlight. With large, raucous crowds, a situation can get out of hand quickly. That's what happened in Chicago, where security guards reportedly used pepper spray to break up a fight, a dangerous practice in a confined area. The Rhode Island club owners should have known the risk from fireworks and forbidden their use.

Nightclub patrons play an important role in protecting themselves. They are likely to be the first to notice that a nightclub is too crowded or is locking its fire exits. They should report such violations immediately and expect a quick response from police or fire officials. The recent tragedies should put all of us on notice of the dangers that lurk in nightclubs and other crowded gatherings.

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