Cleveland left some of its tallest buildings without all of their required safety checkups last year, according to a review by the FOX 8 I‑Team. The station reports the city did not complete every annual high‑rise inspection in 2025, a finding released April 28, 2026 that leaves holes in the public record and fresh questions about whether fire‑safety systems were being tested on schedule.
Reporters dug through municipal inspection logs, re‑inspection lists and related paperwork and found missing entries along with open follow‑up items for multiple downtown towers. In some cases, properties had no recent annual inspection on file at all. Other buildings showed re‑inspection flags that were never formally closed in the system, as reported by the FOX 8 I‑Team.
The problem is not just a filing headache. Past emergencies have already highlighted what can happen when systems fail. In April 2025, firefighters said alarms did not sound during a blaze at Reserve Square, a downtown complex, underscoring the stakes when buildings miss checks, according to 19 News.
Why This Matters
High‑rise safety hinges on regular testing of sprinklers, standpipes, alarms and stairwell pressurization. When inspections slip, hidden problems can sit there until a fire does the discovery work for everyone.
Local coverage and fire‑department data show 2025 brought an unusually high number of fire fatalities in Cleveland, adding urgency to any gaps in the inspection schedule, according to Spectrum News 1. Industry guidance stresses that high‑rise systems need specialized annual and periodic testing to stay reliable; CodeReadySafety offers a plain‑language overview of those requirements.
What The I‑Team Reviewed
The FOX 8 I‑Team says it pulled public inspection logs, re‑inspection lists and other records, then compared what was required with what was actually documented. That review turned up high‑rise residential buildings that lacked completed annual checkups in the city files.
The timing overlaps with leadership turmoil inside the Division of Fire. Chief Anthony Luke retired on Jan. 18, 2026, after a settlement with the city, a development that raised new questions about oversight of the department during the period covered by the review, according to WJW's I‑Team.
City Response And Next Steps
The Fire Prevention Bureau within the Division of Fire is the office responsible for scheduling and documenting code inspections for Cleveland buildings. The bureau operates out of 1645 Superior Ave E in Cleveland.
Residents who want copies of inspection records or who want to flag concerns can reach the bureau through the Fire Division page on the city's website at the City of Cleveland Division of Fire.
What Residents Can Do
Tenants and condo owners do not have to wait for City Hall to sort things out. They can ask building management for the latest fire inspection reports and look around common areas for inspection tags or posted re‑inspection notices.
If documentation is missing or seems outdated, Ohio's public‑records laws give residents the right to request inspection files from the city. Industry resources also spell out what tests and labels to expect in a properly maintained building; for general guidance, see UpToCode.
The FOX 8 I‑Team has posted its full video and supporting documents detailing what it found. Local officials now face pressure to explain how the lapses occurred and what fixes are coming next. This story will be updated as city or fire‑department statements are released; for the I‑Team's documentation and specific building examples, see the FOX 8 I‑Team.
