‘I literally felt my skin peeling’: Up to 40 dead after huge fire tears through a late-night rave in an Oakland warehouse full of artists’ clutter, a makeshift stairwell and no sprinklers or smoke detectors
Officials say at least nine people died in massive fire that was held in an Oakland warehouse
Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said that at least another 25 people are still unaccounted
She said: ‘We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims’
Officials say there was no sprinkler system in the two-story building and firefighters saw no evidence that smoke detectors were activated during the blaze
Crews found flames on three sides of building when they arrived to scene after fire started around 11:30pm
Alameda County Sheriffs Office Sgt. J.D. Nelson said coroner’s office is preparing for 40 or more bodies
Party in city’s Fruitvale district was part of musician Golden Donna’s ‘100% Silk’ West Coast tour
Just last month city officials cited the owner of the warehouse and had launched an investigation into whether the interior structure was illegal
Oakland police said those concerned about missing people should contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau 510-382-3000
By JENNY STANTON
DAILYMAIL.COM
3 December 2016
Up to 40 people are feared dead with nine confirmed after a massive fire destroyed a northern California warehouse artist collective during an electronic music party early Saturday morning, and officials said the building had no sprinkler system or working smoke detectors as the owner had been cited by the city just last month for other violations.
Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said that at least another 25 people are still unaccounted for after the deadly blaze started around 11:30pm in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour.
‘We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,’ Deloche-Reed said. ‘In my career of 30 years, I haven’t experienced something of this magnitude.’
She added that there was no sprinkler system and that firefighters saw no evidence that smoke detectors were activated during the blaze inside the two-story building that is known as an artists enclave called The Oakland Ghost Ship.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ray Kelly said they fear up to 40 people could have possibly died. Arson investigators have been on the scene since the morning to help with investigation, as well as federal authorities.
Kelly said that people inside during the rave either escaped unscathed or were trapped inside.
‘Right now there’s 25 names of people that have not been accounted for,’ Deloach-Reed said.
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