Hank Investigates: Pyrotechnics Regulations

Getting a special permit to set off fireworks is a complicated and stringent process. In Rhode Island it’s overseen by the state's fire marshal and confirmed by a local inspection. Now some important facts are emerging as the investigation progresses. There was no such permit issued for Great White’s fireworks. But otherwise, so far at least, officials indicate the club was going by the book.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"This is 386 pages long, is there any leeway?

Chief Rene Coutu, RI Fire Safety Board
"No, there isn’t, they have to follow the rules and regulations."

Chief Coutu, on the Rhode Island State Fire Safety Board, confirms the club did pass its last safety check.

Chief Rene Coutu
"They’re looking for emergency lighting, they’re looking for exits, it passed that type of a fire inspection."

Clubs like The Station are also locally regulated at Town Hall, officials showed us these permits indicating the club was in compliance.

David Clayton, West Warwick Town Clerk
"This club can legally serve drinks, serve food, have concerts and have performances."

Performances like Great White’s -- our investigation found this is their standard small club contract. It lists lighting, food and equipment needs, but nowhere does it discuss pyrotechnics. It was the bands fireworks display that apparently caught the clubs soundproofing material on fire --a display officials say was illegal.

These permits are issued on a case by case basis and only after a site is inspected to make sure it’s safe.

Chief Rene Coutu
"With the licensing process, those types of things would have been inspected and they might have said, ‘we can't have pyrotechnics because of the construction in the club.’"

That’s because the fire regulations we found also specify fire resistant soundproofing material -- the club's apparently passed the code check, but because no permit was requested, no extra check was done.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"So, if they had approved it for pyrotechnics, they would have looked at it in a different way.

Chief Rene Coutu
"That’s correct."

More on that permitting process, national fire officials said today they will be investigating to see if any regulations need to be changed. They did say that they already know how to prevent situations like this, but it all comes down to following rules that already exist.