There’s pretty good evidence (reports) about multiple inspectors being turned away (from different city offices) and many times that the residents inside went to great lengths (with the owner’s collusion and conspiracy assistance) to defeat inspections.
But the Oakland fire chief is a affirmative action special case. Incompetent is a compliment.
Correct-- Several "city officials" (probably building or zoning guys) apparently went out there for exterior trash complaints and left without entering, but there's no indication that a fire department fire inspector was ever sent to the building. That is the point I was responding to.