« Gas prices up another 7 cents | Today | 2 Mass. men face guns, drugs charges in Fall River »

April 9, 2007

Committee hears testimony on fire codes

PROVIDENCE – A House oversight commission is delving this afternoon into the impact of tougher state fire codes since the Station nightclub fire, an effort to see whether the laws should be changed.

Supporters of keeping the law essentially intact, such as fire department officials, were expected to speak at this, the second, hearing at the State House that was slated to begin at 3 p.m. At the first meeting, representatives of businesses urged changes to the law, arguing that it is draconian.

One hundred people died as a result of the 2003 fire at the West Warwick club.

State Rep. Peter T. Ginaitt, D-Warwick, has said he will fight any attempt to repeal the law. State Rep. Joseph Trillo, R-Warwick, has said the code goes too far beyond regulating nightclubs and has impacted businesses, and he would curb the law to apply to nightclubs.

House leaders appointed Trillo and Ginaitt to the 2007-08 House Oversight Commission to Study the Ramifications of the Fire Safety Code, an advisory board. Also on the board are Rep. Russell Jackson, D-Newport; Rep. Susan Story, R-Barrington; Rep. John McCauley, D-Providence; Rep. Jon Brien, D-Woonsocket; and Rep. Donna Walsh, D-Charlestown.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 3:04 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)