Technically, Our Lady of the Angels was up to code, thanks to a grandfather clause that allowed schools to avoid costly retrofitting. But the school had no alarms or sprinklers, a highly combustible interior, and an open staircase--all of which contributed to the blaze. Another factor: the fire department wasn't called in until after the fire had been underway for 20 minutes. In the end, 92 children and three nuns died in a "disaster that never should have happened."
