Stage pyrotechnics ignited flammable polyurethane foam used as soundproofing. The venue filled with dense black smoke in under a minute, and the majority of the crowd funnelled toward the main entrance they had entered through rather than nearer exits.
One hundred people died. The disaster is a standard case in crowd egress research and led to sweeping US changes in sprinkler requirements for nightclubs, restrictions on indoor pyrotechnics and interior finish flammability rules.
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying Station Nightclub Fire alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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