Fire inspection problems cited

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The state fire marshal says he called attention a year ago to problems with school and nightclub inspections.

The Providence Journal reports that Fire Marshal John E. Chartier wrote to Providence's acting fire chief in November 2011 that if a city report on fire prevention team was accurate, school and nightclub inspections were not conducted in an appropriate time frame as required by state fire code.

The newspaper reports that no action was taken until after Dillon received a second letter from Chartier in April. That's when Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Pare said he became aware of Chartier's concerns.

Pare says some school inspections may have been skipped for more than six years, but that all of Providence's 37 schools have been checked and are safe.