The number of calls to the State Fire and Rescue Service (GPRC) to entertainment venues, bars, and pubs is low 0 5

Fires in such places, as in other catering establishments, most often occur in the kitchen area — for example, due to the ignition of oil in a fryer.

The service also confirmed that the GPRC conducts fire safety inspections in catering establishments, but not in all of them. Such inspections are planned and conducted, for example, in cultural and entertainment venues where more than 100 people can be present at the same time. Thus, in 2024, fire safety inspections were conducted in 15 nightclubs in Riga.

Since the results of inspections are recorded manually, separate statistics on the results of inspections specifically in bars, clubs, and pubs are not maintained.

In addition, unscheduled fire safety inspections are conducted in bars and pubs if information is received about possible violations of fire safety requirements.

According to fire safety regulations, nightclubs, bars, pubs, and other similar entertainment venues where public events are held or that are open to the general public are considered public and economic facilities, the service indicated.

Their owners and responsible persons are required to comply with fire safety requirements, prevent the occurrence of fires, as well as adhere to the rules regarding evacuation routes, the maximum allowable number of people in premises, the provision of fire-fighting means, and conducting briefings for staff.

The GPRC emphasizes that special attention should be paid to the use of open flames and pyrotechnics at public events, the free accessibility of evacuation exits, as well as compliance with the permissible number of people in premises according to regulatory acts and design solutions. The person responsible for the event must ensure compliance and control of fire safety requirements throughout the event.

The GPRC urges both owners of entertainment venues and event organizers to take fire safety requirements seriously, as they are aimed at protecting the lives and health of people.

It was previously reported that Swiss authorities acknowledged that the bar where 40 people died in a fire on New Year's Eve had not undergone fire safety inspections for the past five years.

As a result of the fire at the "Le Constellation" bar, 116 people were injured, of whom 83 are still receiving treatment in hospitals. Half of the deceased were under 18 years old.

The prosecutor's office concluded that the fire likely started when patrons raised champagne bottles with sparklers during the New Year's celebration, igniting the soundproofing foam on the ceiling of the basement bar.