Up to 40 feared dead in club fire
Flames rip through converted warehouse during late night dance party in Oakland
OAKLAND, CALIF. — Fire tore through an Oakland warehouse converted into artist studios during a late night dance party, killing at least nine people, and officials said Saturday that the death toll could rise as high as 40.
Officials said people either escaped from the cluttered building or died inside where the only way down from the second story was via a stairwell built entirely of wooden pallets.
“It appears that either you got out or you got trapped inside,” said Alameda County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly.
Firefighters used chainsaws and axes Saturday to cut through the debris of the cluttered building in a gritty neighbourhood of the San Francisco Bay Area city, where the fire broke out about 11:30 p.m. Friday.
Oakland fire chief Teresa DelocheReed said at least another 25 people were unaccounted for in what authorities were calling the most deadly building fire in the city in recent memory. The victims were believed to be young people in their 20s, Kelly said. He said as many as 40 may have died and the coroner is preparing for a “mass casualty event” that could include victims from other countries.
The warehouse was known as the Oakland Ghost Ship. Its website showed pictures of a bohemian, loft-like interior made of wood and cluttered with rugs, old sofas and a collection of pianos, paintings, turntables, statues and other items.
The website included advertisements for various electronic music parties. Friday night, there was an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour.
Panicked friends and family posted messages on the group’s Facebook page trying to find out if their loved ones were among the dead.