Heavy fire load fueled flames, ATF agent says

A special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Wednesday that an “extremely high level of fire load” propelled the flames that roared through the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland 21⁄2 years ago and ultimately killed 36 people.

Fire investigator Barbara Maxwell took the stand Wednesday in the Ghost Ship criminal trial, and her testimony in an Oakland courtroom squared with prior witnesses for the prosecution. The deadly blaze originated in the back of the warehouse’s first floor near several electrical appliances, she said, and it was unlikely that a Molotov cocktail ignited the flames.

Wednesday marked the 14th day of testimony in the Ghost Ship fire trial against Derick Almena, the master tenant of the warehouse, and Max Harris, whom prosecutors describe as Almena’s right-hand man.

Almena, 49, and Harris, 29, both face 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each victim who died in the Dec. 2, 2016, fire at an electronic-music concert in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood.

Prosecutors seemed intent on using Maxwell’s testimony to demonstrate how the maintenance of the warehouse created a fire trap for those inside, leaving victims with “no notice, no time and no exits.”

Defense attorneys have argued that public safety officials should have known the warehouse was unsafe, while also suggesting a band of arsonists caused the blaze.

Maxwell testified that investigators relied on the physical evidence at the scene — as well as statements from witnesses and electrical engineers — but were unable to determine the cause of the fire. She also said that a heavy fire load “helped propagate the fire at a very quick rate.”

Such a load produces more smoke, Maxwell noted, which is statistically more deadly than the flames of a fire.

Wednesday’s proceedings ended early to allow jurors the afternoon to tend to personal issues, but the trial remains ahead of schedule. Prosecutors are primed to finish calling witnesses in the next few days.

Maxwell’s testimony will continue Thursday, and defense attorneys are expected to begin calling their witnesses next week.