Edmonton bars Hudsons, Nyala fined for overcrowding incidents

Two Edmonton bars have been convicted of overcrowding incidents that date back to 2017.

Hudsons on Whyte, a popular sports bar located at 103rd Street and 82nd Avenue, was fined $7,000 for being over capacity on April 12, 2017, when the Edmonton Oilers were facing off against the San Jose Sharks during the first round of the playoffs, according to a newsrelease from Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.

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NyalaLounge, located at98thStreet and108thAvenue, pleaded guilty toan incident of overcrowding that took place in March 2017. In that case, the bar was fined $3,000and ownerMulugetaTesfayreceived a separate fine of $2,000.

Both bars pleaded guilty in provincial court,Hudsonson May 14 andNyalaon July 17. They are the first Edmonton venues to be convicted of overcrowding in 2018.

"These occupancy limits help protect the public at Edmonton establishments," Mario Arrotta, assistant fire marshal, said in the release Monday.

Maximum occupancy loads for venues are set by fire prevention officers after considering floor space as well as the number, location and size of fire exits, said Arrotta. Overcrowding issues are monitored during inspections by Edmonton police, the public safety compliance team and fire officials.

"Our goal is to ensure timely evacuation for both staff and patrons in the event of an emergency."

At Hudsons, inspectors counted patrons in the restaurant and on the east patio, where permits allowed242and 26 patrons respectively.

Similarly, Nyala has separate occupancy limits for its main floor and basement level, at 60 people each, said Maya Filipovic, spokesperson for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.

"The numbers are assigned to each space and it is the staff's job that when patio patrons move into the restaurant or vice versa, the total number allowed for that space is not exceeded," she said."Same if it is a different floor space, you cannot exceed the number allowed for that space."

Neither venue had previously been convicted of overcrowding, she said.

Businesses can be fined up to $100,000 for a first overcrowding offence, and up to $500,000 for subsequent violations.

In 2017, fire prevention officers conducted 176 night patrols and the public safety team conducted 106 inspections.