Are Our Nightclubs Safe?

As college students, we wait for the clock to strike midnight to escape our everyday reality. We leave behind our books, the stress of exams, and the weight of deadlines to step into the night, craving music, adrenaline, and a moment of freedom.

 

Whether it's in Underground, The Face, or Billion, music pulses through our veins, alcohol blurs our worries, and for a few hours, nothing else matters.

 

But have we ever stopped to wonder—how safe are these places where we dance and drink the night away?

 

In neighboring Kocani, North Macedonia, tragedy struck on March 16 when a fire erupted in the unlicensed Pulse nightclub, killing 59 people, some as young as 16 years old, and injuring 170 others. Among the victims was Stefanija Aleksova, a sophomore at our university.

 

According to Stefan Boychev, a fire inspector in the Blagoevgrad region, after the fire in Kocani, there were emergency inspections conducted in nightclubs in the whole Blagoevgrad region. Thirty establishments were inspected, and 11 written citations were issued. The most frequent fire safety violations are unchecked fire extinguishers or extinguishers that are not on a stand.

 

“The biggest risk is exceeding the capacity of the establishment,” stated Inspector Boychev.

 

This raises a significant question: If a fire broke out in a Blagoevgrad nightclub, how safe would we be?

 

 

Have there been nightclub fires in Blagoevgrad?

Yes.

 

On September 5, 2021, a fire burned the city’s iconic Dome building. It erupted from the nightclub Balkanton, located in the lower part of the building. Nightclub The Face was also affected. Only a few staff members were present and were evacuated. The fire did not damage nearby residential buildings, as firefighters acted swiftly. No casualties were reported, but there was significant damage.

 

The blaze was intentionally caused by a 43-year-old man who poured gasoline on an electrical switchboard and set it on fire. He was later detained.

 

On October 14, 2012, a fire erupted in the nightclub BE JOY, owned by businessman and former police officer Borislav Nikolov. During the time of the incident, the nightclub had not been working, and only Nikolov was present. He was sleeping on the first floor of the building and was unharmed. The discothèque burned to the ground. An investigation was launched, and the main theory for the cause of the fire was arson.

 

 

Another fire occurred in the nightclub Sun City, owned by Krasimir Nikolov, on April 20, 2009, in downtown Blagoevgrad. Firefighters and two firetrucks arrived at the scene minutes after emergency services were called. They were able to put out the fire before serious damage was done. There were no customers inside the club at the time of the incident, and no casualties were reported.

 

What are the fire safety laws in Blagoevgrad?

In Blagoevgrad, like in the rest of Bulgaria, fire safety regulations for nightclubs are governed by national legislation. The Ministry of Interior's General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection is responsible for conducting inspections and ensuring fire safety regulations are met. 

 

Before opening their doors to the public, nightclubs must obtain a fire safety certificate. This involves assessing the nightclub’s construction and compliance with fire safety standards. The procedure is regulated mainly by ORDINANCE No. 8121z-882, which outlines the process and conditions for conducting fire safety inspections.  

 

Nightclubs must adhere to the Disaster Protection Act, which includes general provisions related to fire safety measures. According to Regulation No. Iz-1971 of 29.10.2009, nightclubs must have fire-resistant materials, emergency exits, fire alarm systems, and fire extinguishers. Regulation No. 8121z-647 obliges nightclub owners to have regular inspections, provide fire safety training to their staff, and preserve their fire safety equipment. According to Inspector Boychev, there is, however, no obligation of the owners to inform the fire inspectors whether such training has been conducted and when. If asked, the fire department could be invited to lead the training.

 

It is mandatory for nightclubs in Blagoevgrad to comply with these national regulations. Otherwise, they are at risk of receiving fines or having their establishment closed.

 

How often are Blagoevgrad nightclubs checked for fire safety?

Inspector Boychev said fire safety inspections are conducted at least once a year. There are also inspections before big holidays, such as the National Students’ Holiday, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Also, unannounced night inspections are conducted by fire inspectors, health inspectors, and police officers.

 

What about Underground, the AUBG favorite?

We went to check the fire safety in Underground because there was unease among the student body after the fire in Kocani, mainly because of Under’s wooden interior and the narrow and steep stairs of the entrance. Also, because of its location, underground.

 

Neither we, nor the other AUBG students we talked with knew about or had noticed the emergency exit in Underground. It is located in the nightclub’s big room and is covered in pictures, which makes it blend with the interior. According to the club staff, it is never locked.

 

 

According to Inspector Boychev, Underground has two exits that people can use in case of emergency – the main entrance and the emergency door; however, he stated that sometimes during inspections, the emergency exit has been locked, and the club has received a citation and a fine.

 

Above the emergency exit in the big room is an evacuation plan. On the plan, three arrows point to one of the emergency exits, and others point to the main entrance.  In case of an emergency, after climbing the stairs, the crowd would be divided into two. One part would go out through the main exit door, and the other through the staff exit in order to escape overcrowding. 

 

 

On the evacuation plan, the places with fire extinguishers are also marked. They can be found at the two bars. Although there is a fire extinguisher sign on the wall, fire extinguishers could not be seen anywhere in proximity.

 

 

After questioning the bartender, he pulled out a fire extinguisher from underneath the bar. He assured us there are six more in the nightclub. Where exactly and whether the visitors could gain access to them in case of emergency, remains unclear.

 

This article has been written by Antoine Husseini and Viktoria Nikolova, AUBG students. It is part of the collaboration between AUBG Daily and the Newsroom course led by Prof. Laura Kelly.