Oakland building lacked sprinklers before blaze

Investigators found violations 3 days ahead of deadly fire.

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Inspectors discovered that a California building in a rundown neighborhood lacked fire extinguishers, smoke detectors in every apartment and a working sprinkler system just three days before a blaze erupted and killed four low-income residents.

Officials uncovered mul- tiple fire code violations during an inspection Friday and ordered the owner of the Oakland building to immediately fix the fire alarm and sprinkler systems, according to documents released by the city.

Residents complained they didn’t hear alarms, feel sprinklers or see fire extinguishers early Monday as they fled flames tearing through the three-story building that housed some 80 recovering drug addicts and former homeless people.

Michael Jones said he was awakened by screams of “fire,” bolted out of bed and instinctively pounded on the doors of his elderly neighbors and ushered them to safety.

Jones, 43, then found Princess, the “house” pit bull, cowering in the backyard, and the two ran out the front door as glass shattered from the heat.

The fourth body was discovered Tuesday at the building where four other people were injured, authorities said.

The Alameda County coroner has identified one of the victims as Edwarn Anderson, 64. The others have not yet been identified.