Rescue 4 hidden cameras rolled inside local schools, uncovering a potentially deadly problem that could easily be fixed.

In Russia, 21 students and a teacher died after being trapped in a burning school. In India, 84 children who went to class in the morning never made it home, Rescue 4's Kevin Dietz reported.

And, in the last two years, fires have occurred at close to a dozen schools in Michigan.

"There is a big problem within school systems in Michigan," said fire inspector Mike Roarty.

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The tab for repairs in a January 2005 fire at Keppin Elementary School in Lincoln Park is up to more than $2 million.

Rescue 4 Undercover exposed why this fire and dozens of other school fires could have been prevented.

"There is no requirement right now for annual inspections of schools," said Henry Green, the state director of fire safety.

Rescue 4 put suburban schools to the test with a hidden camera investigation starting at Pierce Elementary School in Birmingham.

Rescue 4 found that the artwork on the walls was a violation. The paper was determined to be flammable and in one location, the artwork was plastered over the fire box, Dietz reported.

Another fire box inside Pierce was easy to locate, but had no extinguisher inside.

Rescue 4's next stop was at Madison Heights High School, where hidden cameras exposed two fire boxes that were empty.

Experts also told Rescue 4 that some cardboard boxes stored in the school's boiler room were a huge mistake that could spark a raging fire.

"There is no requirement right now for annual inspections of schools." - Henry Green, state director of fire safety

Rescue 4 learned that inspections are not required in suburban schools, which was a deliberate decision by the state to cut costs, Dietz reported.

And school administrators don't need to worry about getting caught for violations because fire inspectors aren't allowed into school buildings unless invited, which typically occurs after there's a fire, Dietz reported.

Rescue 4 hidden cameras moved on to Thomas Edison Elementary in Madison Heights, where they found violations in paper projects hanging from ceilings and a huge roll of tissue paper sitting in a hallway.

At other schools, Rescue 4 asked students how many fire drills the school conducted this year.

One student answered zero and another said two. Rescue 4 learned that state law requires six fire drills to be conducted annually at every school.

Rescue 4 also learned that there were no annual inspections in place at Keppin Elementary in Lincoln Park. Roarty inspected the school only after the fire occurred, Dietz reported.

"I can tell you they are very, very lucky no one was hurt," Roarty said.

Roarty told Rescue 4 that if inspectors would have visited the school prior to the fire, he said the school would have been advised to remove the flammable curtains in the gym, which may have prevented the fire.

"They are not in the best interest of the school to have that type of curtain or carpeting or interior finish because eventually someone will get hurt," Roarty said.

Two weeks ago, Rescue 4 stopped at Wilde Elementary in Warren -- which had a roof fire two years ago -- and found flammable items including paper projects, clothing and more. And the closest fire extinguisher wasn't charged and would likely have been useless in a fire, Dietz reported.

Schools in the city of Detroit would likely be busted for these violations because they have mandatory annual inspections and are ordered to fix fire hazards.