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UFD: Sprinklers, Smoke Detectors broken

By By EVAN WHITE

Story Created: Sep 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM EST

Story Updated: Sep 23, 2009 at 6:33 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Utica Fire Department has been sifting through information and evidence for several days regarding the weekend fire at 102 James Street that killed four people.

Wednesday, UFD officials have confirmed that the sprinkler system was not up to code and had not been inspected for years. Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks says the system was so old, once firefighters hooked into the sprinkler system, heads from the sprinklers blew off.

In addition, smoke detectors were either not working or not present throughout the building.

Could Sunday's fire have been prevented? Brooks doesn't think so, but feels residents could have been alerted more quickly of the fire, and therefore had a better chance of making it out safely.

No potential causes have been ruled out, Brooks expects to release the suspected cause of this fire by Thursday.

Building owner Timothy Klotz is due in court Monday to answer charges for not registering seven other properties under the city's fire inspection program.