You don't want baseless assertions answered, don't make them.
The OP asserts a news article supports his belief that increased government involvement (permits and inspections) would have prevented a tragedy. The news article does not support that claim.
We don't know that a permit was required, who did the work, or exactly what flaw an inspection would have discovered.
Perhaps this is a simple example if incomplete reporting. Or, perhaps, there is nothing wrong with the pool heater, and all the inspections and rules in the world would not matter.
I am sure the OP has taken Doug's hint, and will refrain from starting any more blatantly political threads.