Kiss nightclub fire

Santa Maria, January 27, 2013

Logistics literature

Approximately 1061 people attended the venue, 370 above the nightclub capacity.

The large number of people, associated with the difficulty of identifying and accessing the exits, aggravated the scene.

Locations that host large audiences require an adequate number of routes, passageways and wide openings for rapid exit, as well as a planned information and guidance system with signs, arrows, audible warnings, and prior information indicating routes and exits and preventing general panic [8] .

Difficult access to exits and inefficient evacuation.

Considering that emergency situations may arise from natural phenomena or as a result of human actions, the study and knowledge of the premises’ accessibility, alert systems, orientation and rapid and safe deployment of circulation areas and flight is crucial [10] .

Air transportation was of essential for agility in the rescue of victims.

The use of helicopters in the distribution, reallocation and humanitarian aid is an activity of great importance for the relief of the victims suffering, and must be included in a system of emergency response [26] .

Effective logistics employed in the victim life support.

The unpredictability of demand, immediate response, and lack of adequate physical structure are common elements in a mass disaster. It is required optimal coordination, organization, and a coherent strategy to maximize results [23] .

Information was broadcasted in “real time” through the internet.

Online media are potentially powerful in terms of the speed of news dissemination, as they have become a common element of everyday life [5] [11] .

Online social networks used to circulate information, organize actions, and promote social mobilization.

One of the great advantages of the use of online media is the interactivity and the exchange of information and content. Online social networks provide a space for social interventions through community support and mobilization [15] .

Blood banks of several cities of the state were at capacity as a result of the overwhelming attendance of blood donors.

Supply management is essential to determine the distribution of resources and the actual demand for donations, making the supply chain more efficient and effective [21] .

Prior to the fire, there was no disaster response plan in the city, nor any previous training for such situations.

In the absence of an effective response plan, the negative consequences of mass disasters for the site and the population may be magnified. From the need to address these types of emergency situations, the concept of humanitarian logistics arises from the need to address these types of emergencies [17] .

Training institutions, government agencies and the population on disaster preparedness and response is essential to achieve greater coordination in cases of mass disasters [1] .

Complex and effective coordination of volunteers and institutions.

Coordination is an essential mechanism for an efficient and effective response [22] .

Coordination is the synergic interaction among the actors involved in an event. It occurs at three different levels (strategic, tactical, and operational), and is mainly responsible for the distribution of tasks, information sharing and decision making [4] .