Deadly Oakland Fire Devastates Community with Death Toll of at Least 36
Updated 9:29am PST, Tues, Dec. 6, 2016: Death toll is 36. Firefighters on the scene have searched 70 percent of the wreckage so far.
Updated 12:00pm PST, Mon, Dec. 5, 2016: Death toll is 33.
Updated 10:32am PST, Mon, Dec. 5, 2016: President Obama releases a statement on the Oakland Fire.
Photo: Darin Marshall (SFGate)
A deadly warehouse fire in Oakland has shaken the Bay Area to its core.
The warehouse was a two-story building at 31st and International Boulevard affectionately named “Ghost Ship,” that had been illegally used as an artists collective, a popular party space, a venue for concerts, and had people living in the warehouse illegally as well. The building had permits for use as a warehouse, but not as a living or entertainment spot. Several people were believed to be living there, including a family with three small children who survived but lost everything. The officials still don’t know what caused the blaze.
About 70 percent of the building had been searched as of Tuesday morning, according to authorities. The collapsed structure at 1305 31st Avenue in the Fruitvale neighborhood is in shambles, forcing crews to dig through the rubble to search for victims; officials say that it would be days before the entire rubble could be searched. The blaze was the city’s deadliest fire since the Oakland Hills firestorm in 1991 that killed 25 people.
The fire started late Friday night, during an electronic dance party, which had been promoted for weeks online beforehand. The party apparently took place in a large open space on the second floor of the building, accessible by a single wooden staircase.
The death toll has skyrocketed since crews first arrived on the scene. Originally starting with nine found dead bodies, the number rose to 36 Tuesday morning, and is estimated to possibly reach as high as 40.
Most of the victims were in their 20s or 30s, and there doesn’t seem to be many injured survivors from the blast, victims either got out or didn’t, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
The community is coming together in support of this horrendous event, teams of people are present to help, families are being contacted and consoled, and a large number of organizations, teams, groups and individuals are coming out in support, both physically and symbolically, in donations and financial support. California Governor Jerry Brown has issued a statement of condolences, “Our thoughts are with the entire city in this difficult time and we extend our condolences to the family and friends of those lost.”
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued a separate statement calling the fire “an immense tragedy.”
President Obama also issued a statement regarding the tremendous loss of lives as a result of the Oakland fire: “Today our prayers go out to the people of Oakland, California in the aftermath of this weekend’s deadly warehouse fire—one of the worst fires in the state’s history. While we still don’t know the full toll of this disaster, we do know that an American community has been devastated, and many people—including young men and women with their whole futures ahead of them—have tragically lost their lives. I want to thank the dedicated first responders who have been working tirelessly for days to contain the situation, recover victims, and treat the wounded. My Administration is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure that authorities have everything they need as they continue response operations and investigate the cause of the fire. Oakland is one of the most diverse and creative cities in our country, and as families and residents pull together in the wake of this awful tragedy, they will have the unwavering support of the American people.”
