In the wake of last night's fatal fire at a Rhode Island nightclub and a stampede earlier this week at a Chicago venue, safety measures at clubs nationwide will likely be reevaluated. What measures should be taken in Boston to ensure the safety of its nightspots? What lessons can be learned -- by venue owners and concertgoers alike -- in terms of safety at clubs? .

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sad

Chuck, Wellfleet

I have been in The Station many times over the years and was shocked by the devasting news. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families. I am surprised that in such a small club, with low ceilings, that pyrotechnics were even used. There was no common sense used in lighting them off in such a small place with low ceilings

Kevin, West Warwick, RI

if you read the articles on this tragedy, you'll notice there were 3 fire exits available... so the problem wasn't the club... that tragedy was because people panic. but that's human nature. similar to chicago, where if nobody panics/pushes, everyone gets out ok.

masher, austin

not just clubs! all places of public gatherings. city and town licensing boards ar ereponsible for making sure that the rules are enforced!

todd, woburn

Sprinklers should be required for occupancy in all resturants, clubs & bars

Adam, Attleboro/MA

very sad.

John, Boston

I was just in Phoenix last week at the Suns/Celtics basketball game, and they had a large pyrotechnics display. I was surprised - I guess the idea of indoor pyrotechnics is ingrained in my New England psyche as 'wicked' not allowed. I remarked to a local that "this would never happen at a Celtics game" and he seemed equally surprised that Boston wouldn't allow it.

cj, watertown

I was flabbergasted to learn in this mornings press conference that due to the square footage of the building, it was not required to have a sprinkler system. What kind of cockamamy fire code is that?? I have an extensive sprinkler system here in my office where the risk of fire is much much less than in a nightclub full of flammable alchohol, smokers, possibly a kitchen where a grease fire is always a risk. But because of its size, it didn't require a sprinkler system?? Preposterous Judging from how much water a good sprinkler system can throw, I would bet many, if not all of those people could have been saved. This should be a mandatory fire code for places like that, no matter how small they are.

Mark, Boston

Sprinklers. Why isn't anyone saying "then the sprinklers went on"? Would the fire have spread so quickly if there had been a working sprinkler system?

JB, Somerville

I was thinking. Why are lighted exit signs only on the ceilings? When there is a fire, the black smoke sits from the ceiling down. The signs can't be seen then. Especially from what we've seen in the Station fire, a fire is the most important time to be able to locate the exits. Can't they be put on either side of doorways at baseboard height? Power outages obviously don't help the situation.

David, Taunton