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Decade after deadly Rhode Island fire, lessons for Brazil

Fire officials and survivors of a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people in Rhode Island say there are lessons for Brazil and elsewhere from sweeping changes made after the fire.

A fire code enacted after the blaze means movie theaters, nightclubs and concert halls now must announce the location of emergency exits before each show.

Many venues were forced to install sprinkler systems and make other renovations. One theater that shut down six years ago because it couldn’t afford the changes reopened on Saturday after raising about $200,000 to install new fireproof seat upholstery and other upgrades.

Fire survivors say bouncers are more attentive to safety problems, as are concertgoers.

One fire chief says other states and countries would save lives if they adopted Rhode Island’s rules.