After about four months, the Columbus Division of Fire has finished inspecting 351 nightclubs, bars and restaurants for fire code violations. Inspectors found illegal flammable materials in 10 of the nightclubs and one restaurant. Among those materials was the same type of foam insulation that fueled the fatal fire at a Rhode Island nightclub in February.

The foam, which some nightclub owners use for soundproofing their stages, was the main concern of inspectors, as it is petroleum-based and burns very quickly, turning into liquid.

“The illegal decorative materials could have been something such as a curtain on the stage that was not properly treated to make it flame retardant,” said Mike Fultz Battalion Chief and spokesman for the Columbus Division of Fire.

“It could have also just been something hanging from the ceiling,” he said.

The most common violation involved was unsafe electrical extension cords, with many being overused.

“People were using them inappropriately,” Fultz said. “In some cases, they were lying on the floor and people would just walk across them.”

Exit signs missing or not being lit, and electrical cords and outlets being exposed or not covered were the other most prevalent violations.

“Sometimes the covers to the light switches get cracked or broken, or even removed,” Fultz said. “They just have to replace it. It’s pretty simple.”

After the fire at a West Warwick, R.I., nightclub in February that killed 100 people and injured almost 200, inspections have been vigorously stepped up to prevent another such occurrence.

“It was an on-going process before the Rhode Island fire. But after it, we increased the coverage of the inspectors,” Fultz said.

The division used to have only three inspectors trained and one would go out on each shift, Fultz said. If someone was sick, no one did the inspection that night. Now the division has two levels of back-up inspectors for each inspection, and always replaces someone who is sick or on vacation.

“The higher level inspections will now be an on-going process, and keep going forever,” Fultz said. “Since the people are already trained, it will not cost the city overtime.”

During the four-month span of inspections, there were 756 total hours of overtime used.

Prior to the Rhode Island fire, no notes were made in inspection reports regarding the highly flammable foam used for insulation and soundproofing.

The one restaurant cited for having this foam was Hoggy’s Smoke House, located at 1416 W. 5th Ave.

Manager Jill Morey said the eatery was cited for having the foam to help with acoustics.

“The inspectors told us they wouldn’t let us open until it was taken down,” Morey said. “They gave us a week to do it, but we did it right away.”

Morey said the foam has been up for about six years and it was already up when she took over as manager.

“I had no idea it was flammable,” she said.

Ken Adams, owner of Remo’s Lounge located at 1409 S. High St., said the inspectors came in on St. Patrick’s Day and told him they needed to remove the Mylar curtains hanging on and around the stage.

“They were fire retardant, but we couldn’t prove it,” Adams said. “We took them down and tossed them into the Dumpster. The next day we went out and bought all new ones.”

“He went around the room with a flashlight and checked everything out. He was very professional,” Adams said of the inspector.

Fultz said the venue operators have also been very cooperative and extremely helpful, which has led to the discovery of these serious violations.

“Most people were not aware that what they put up was highly flammable,” Fultz said. “But they were glad to have us come through, and they usually fixed things right on the spot.”