L.A. Officials Keep Close Eye on Clubs

Los Angeles city and county fire officials said Sunday that they know of no local nightclubs that could turn into firetraps like the illegal Bronx dance hall in which 87 people were killed.

But the spokesmen said their departments have shut down several illicit social clubs in the past and that they could not rule out that some may still exist in the area.

City fire inspectors routinely patrol Los Angeles in search of nightclubs that violate fire codes, said Greg Acevedo of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

“We have inspectors go out every night to make sure that clubs are safe,” Acevedo said. “If there is a place that’s doing business, and we find out about it, we make sure they have permits and are not overcrowded. If they don’t have permits, they’re closed down.”

Art Moncrief of the county fire department said: “We do a pretty good job of fire prevention. All the stations go out to businesses at least once a year and inspect them.”