Thousands Sign Up For Mass. Nightclub Crowd Manager Law

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan says that more than 4,000 people have completed online training to become certified crowd managers in nightclubs.

Coan said the certifications are mandated under a state law that took effect this month. The law requires nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques and bars to designate one crowd manager for every 250 occupants.

According to the law, the designated crowd manager must be trained and tested every three years. This training and testing is provided online for free by the state fire marshal.

Eight years ago, one of the worst nightclub fires in the nation's history killed 100 people and injured more than 200 at The Station nightclub in West Warwick in neighboring Rhode Island.

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