RI officials hold crowd safety training

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- Rhode Island state officials held a training seminar Monday morning at the Warwick Showcase Cinema in an effort to raise awareness about crowd management.

In light of the 10th anniversary of the tragic nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 100 people, the state Health Department, Fire Marshal and Committee on Occupational Safety and Health teamed up to organize a crowd safety management and control training session. The seminar was open to the public, and its goal was to raise awareness as to avoid more tragic fires in the future.

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"The lessons learned from the Station Nightclub Fire must never be forgotten," said Dr. Michael Fine of the Rhode Island Health Dept. "The training will increase the awareness of the need for proper crowd safety management and control, and it will help keep Rhode Islanders safe at places of assembly."

Rhode Island state law now requires all places with a crowd of 50 or more to have a trained and licensed "crowd manager."

Over one hundred people attended Monday morning's seminar, and they were given a test at the end of their session. Upon completing and passing this test, they received a state-issued crowd manager's license, which will be valid for three years.