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Coordinates: 37°46′40″N 122°13′38″W / 37.777743°N 122.227117°W / 37.777743; -122.227117
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The '''2016 Oakland warehouse fire''' was a fire that broke out on December 2, 2016 at around 11:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Pacific Standard Time|local time]] in a converted [[warehouse]], known locally as the Oakland Ghost Ship, that served as an [[artist collective]] in the [[Fruitvale, Oakland, California|Fruitvale]] neighborhood of [[Oakland, California]]. At least 30 people were killed in the fire, the deadliest in the history of Oakland,<ref name="nyt1"/><ref name="Mercury-News-12-3-2016">{{cite news|author1=Harry Harris|title=At least 9 dead, 25 missing in Oakland warehouse party fire|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/03/multiple-people-feared-dead-in-oakland-warehouse-party-fire/|accessdate=December 3, 2016|work=[[The Mercury News]]|date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> and the deadliest event in the city since the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake]].<ref name="BBC-dec3" /> At the time of the fire, the warehouse was hosting a concert promoted by the [[electronic dance music]] record label 100% Silk, and featuring several musicians from its roster.<ref name="silk1"/>
The '''2016 Oakland warehouse fire''' was a fire that broke out on December 2, 2016 at around 11:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Pacific Standard Time|local time]] in a converted [[warehouse]], known locally as the Oakland Ghost Ship, that served as an [[artist collective]] in the [[Fruitvale, Oakland, California|Fruitvale]] neighborhood of [[Oakland, California]]. At least 30 people were killed in the fire, the deadliest in the history of Oakland,<ref name="nyt1"/><ref name="Mercury-News-12-3-2016">{{cite news|author1=Harry Harris|title=At least 9 dead, 25 missing in Oakland warehouse party fire|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/03/multiple-people-feared-dead-in-oakland-warehouse-party-fire/|accessdate=December 3, 2016|work=[[The Mercury News]]|date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> and the deadliest event in the city since the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake]].<ref name="BBC-dec3" /> At the time of the fire, the warehouse was hosting a concert promoted by the [[house music]] record label 100% Silk, and featuring several musicians from its roster.<ref name="silk1"/>


==Fire==
==Fire==

Revision as of 22:45, 4 December 2016

2016 Oakland warehouse fire
A block with a burned out warehouse and a fire truck
The block the next morning, with the burned building in the center
DateDecember 2, 2016 (2016-12-02)
Time23:30 (PST)
VenueOakland Ghost Ship warehouse
Location1305 31st Avenue, Oakland, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°46′40″N 122°13′38″W / 37.777743°N 122.227117°W / 37.777743; -122.227117
TypeFire
Deaths30 confirmed[1]
Non-fatal injuries2[2]
MissingAt least 35[3]

The 2016 Oakland warehouse fire was a fire that broke out on December 2, 2016 at around 11:30 p.m. local time in a converted warehouse, known locally as the Oakland Ghost Ship, that served as an artist collective in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, California. At least 30 people were killed in the fire, the deadliest in the history of Oakland,[3][4] and the deadliest event in the city since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.[5] At the time of the fire, the warehouse was hosting a concert promoted by the house music record label 100% Silk, and featuring several musicians from its roster.[6]

Fire

The fire started in a 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) converted warehouse, known locally as the Oakland Ghost Ship. The Oakland Ghost Ship was home to the Ghost Ship Artist Collective, a collective of artists who worked at the warehouse; the collective also owned the building itself.[7] It took four to five hours for 52 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The effort involved 11 fire engines and three fire trucks.[8][9] A search of the building was impeded when the roof collapsed.[9] Drone aircraft were deployed to search for survivors using thermal imaging, but none were found.[10]

Multiple factors may have contributed to the loss of life. There were no fire sprinklers in the building, and firefighters on scene heard no smoke detectors.[4] Upon entering the building, firefighters found it was cluttered with furniture, art, and mannequins; Oakland Fire Department Chief Teresa Deloach Reed told reporters, "It was like a maze, almost."[4] Deloach Reed said that it appeared that the only exit to the second floor was a makeshift stairway made of stacked wooden pallets.[11][4] The stairway was instantly incinerated in the blaze, trapping victims inside.[12]

In a December 4 interview with The TODAY Show, Max Ohr, creative director of the Ghost Ship Artist Collective, confirmed that there were no sprinklers in the building. Ohr also said that the collective had reported electrical problems to the owner of the building.[13]

Around 50 people were present in the building at the time of the fire, and at least 30 were reported dead by police.[1][3] Thirty-five are reportedly missing.[3][5][14] Officials are expecting the number of deaths to be closer to 40.[11][9] Few serious but non-lethal injuries were reported; Alameda County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Ray Kelly said, "It appears that people either made it out, or they didn’t make it out."[15] A representative from Oakland's Highland Hospital reported receiving two patients, one of whom has been discharged.[2]

Of the musicians scheduled to perform at the concert, only two—headliner Golden Donna (the stage name for musician Joel Shanahan)[6][16] and Aja Archuleta[3]—were confirmed to have escaped the fire. Three other musicians on the bill—outsider house artist Cherushii (Chelsea Faith), disk jockey Nackt (Johnny Igaz) and electro-industrial performer Obsidian Blade (Joseph Matlock)—were listed as missing.[17][18]

Investigation

A small fire station with an American flag and police SUV in front
Fire Station 13, which is a block away from the blaze

Before the fire, the building had already been under investigation by the Oakland Planning and Building Department for structural deficiencies.[12] A spokesperson for the department noted that an event like Friday night's concert would have required a special permit, but none had been issued.[8] Complaints of hazardous garbage and construction debris around the building had also been made.[19] Although the collective did not intend the warehouse to be a housing accommodation for any of the artists,[20] the city is investigating whether people were living in the warehouse illegally.[8] Although the city had labeled the warehouse a "fire hazard," the Ghost Ship Artist Collective's founder allegedly did not respond to the city's concerns.[21]

Reactions

Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf referred to the fire as "an immense tragedy".[12][22] California governor Jerry Brown issued a statement extending his condolences.[23] Congressperson Barbara Lee expressed sympathy for the victims and gratitude to the firefighters and first responders, and promised support in securing any needed federal assistance.[24] Other state officials expressing condolences included Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General and U.S. Senator-elect Kamala Harris, and Assemblyperson Rob Bonta.[25]

The Oakland A's baseball team offered to match donations for those affected, up to $30,000; the Oakland Raiders football team soon joined them.[12][26][27] The Oakland-based Golden State Warriors basketball team announced a donation of $50,000 to the Fruitvale-based Unity Council.[28] A Facebook Safety Check was deployed to help people find the whereabouts of friends and family who might have been in attendance.[29]

After the fire, the Ghost Ship Art Collective's founder posted on Facebook, mourning that the fire had destroyed his warehouse. This post was criticized by several other Facebook users, who noted that the collective's founder had not mentioned anything about the people killed or injured in the fire.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Michael Edison Hayden; Dean Schabner (December 4, 2016). "30 Bodies Recovered in Oakland Warehouse Fire, As Search Continues". ABC News. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Kimberly Hutcherson; Dan Simon (December 3, 2016). "Oakland fire kills at least 9 at warehouse party, fire chief says". CNN. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Thomas Fuller; Conor Dougherty (December 4, 2016). "Death Toll in Deadly Warehouse Fire Rises to 24 as Search Goes On". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Harry Harris (December 3, 2016). "At least 9 dead, 25 missing in Oakland warehouse party fire". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Oakland fire: Nine die during California club night". BBC News. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Randall Roberts (December 3, 2016). "Oakland concert struck by deadly fire was promoted by L.A. dance label 100% Silk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  7. ^ Olga R. Rodriguez (December 3, 2016). "Warehouse gutted by blaze was home to Bohemian art space". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Rhea Mahbubani; Jessica Rice (December 3, 2016). "9 Killed, Dozens More Feared Dead in Oakland Warehouse Fire". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Elizabeth Weise; Aamer Madhani (December 3, 2016). "Authorities prepared for up to 40 deaths in Oakland warehouse fire". USA Today. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Rory Carroll; Peter Henderson (December 3, 2016). "California warehouse fire kills at least nine at dance party". Reuters. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Russ Mitchell; Peter H. King; Tracey Lien; Paige St. John (December 3, 2016). "Officials fear up to 40 dead in fire during concert at Oakland warehouse". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d Elizabeth Chuck; Ali Gostanian; Rebecca Sai; Erin Calabrese (December 3, 2016). "At Least 9 Dead, Others Missing After California Warehouse Fire: Official". NBC News. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  13. ^ Daniella Silva (December 4, 2016). "Oakland Warehouse Fire Survivors Describe Escape From Blaze as Confirmed Death Toll Rises to 30". NBC News. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  14. ^ Jill Tucker; Erin Allday; Kevin Fagan (December 3, 2016). "At least 9 dead, many missing in fire at Oakland party". SFGate. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  15. ^ Kristine Guerra; Ana Swanson (December 3, 2016). "'People either made it out, or they didn't': Oakland officials fear up to 40 dead in fire". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "Electronic Artist Headlining Oakland Rave Survived Fatal Fire". CBS San Francisco. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  17. ^ Andy Hermann (December 3, 2016). "At Least 9 Dead in Oakland Warehouse Fire at Event for L.A.-Based Label 100% Silk". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  18. ^ Lefebvre, Sam. "Artists at Last Night's Oakland Warehouse Fire Discuss The Tragedy, Those Missing, Need for Safe Underground Spaces | East Bay Express". East Bay Express. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  19. ^ Sam Levin; Alan Yuhas (December 3, 2016). "Oakland 'Ghost Ship' warehouse party fire leaves nine dead and 25 missing". The Guardian. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  20. ^ "Officials preparing for up to 40 fatalities in Oakland warehouse fire". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  21. ^ Dan Noyes (December 4, 2016). "Ex-employees say Ghost Ship founder disregarded fire hazard warnings". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  22. ^ Thomas Fuller; Eli Rosenberg (December 3, 2016). "At Least 9 Are Dead After Fire at Warehouse Party in Oakland". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  23. ^ "The Latest: City started investigating warehouse weeks ago". SFGate. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  24. ^ Allison Weeks (December 3, 2016). "Congresswoman Barbara Lee speaks about deadly Oakland warehouse fire". KRON 4. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  25. ^ "California Officials React to Deadly Oakland Warehouse Fire". NBC Bay Area. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  26. ^ Oakland A's (December 3, 2016). "THANK YOU to every Oakland A's fan for helping us support our community". Twitter. Retrieved December 3, 2016. We will now match to $30,000.
  27. ^ Oakland A's (December 3, 2016). "The @RAIDERS are joining us in relief of the #OaklandFire and will also be matching and donating up to $30,000". Twitter. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  28. ^ "Warriors make $50K donation to support victims of Oakland fire". ESPN. December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  29. ^ Brandon Mercer (December 3, 2016). "Facebook Safety Check activated for Oakland Inferno that killed 9, and left 25 missing". SFGate. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  30. ^ Silverstein, Jason (December 4, 2016). "Calif. warehouse operator mourns his venue after deadly fire". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
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