Oakland concert crowd caught in a warehouse fire
Friends and family rushed to social media on Saturday in search of loved ones after a fire tore through a California warehouse party, leaving at least nine dead and dozens of others missing.
Fire officials have not yet been able to search the Oakland building, which hosted electronic artist Golden Donna and a crowd of at least 50 people during the Friday night dance party. The blaze reportedly broke out about 11:30 p.m. at the live-work space and continued to burn early Saturday morning.
A woman named Eveline Darroch created a thread on the dance party’s Facebook event page where concert-goers can list themselves as safe while family members and friends can inquire into those still missing.
At least 9 people are confirmed dead and 25 others are unaccounted for in a three-alarm fire at a warehouse in Oakland where people were having a party.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant J.D. Nelson says the building is not safe enough to enter. He also says the coroner’s office is preparing for 40 or more bodies. No bodies have been removed from the building. Nelson says this is the largest mass casualty they have prepared for since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed says the cause is unknown and a task force will be assisting with the investigation. Reed also says the building was densely packed. The second floor likely had a makeshift stairwell made out of pallets.
The majority of victims were on the second floor.
The building likely did not have sprinklers, fire detectors.
The party had a band and was scheduled to have performances at this venue from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m.
Anywhere from 50-100 people were in the small building where a fire broke out at what some are calling a “rave”.
The roof of the building collapsed down to the second floor.
There are still large portions of the building that has not been searched.
Fire officials say they do not believe the building had sprinklers.
Video from KGO TV and information from the ASSOCIATED PRESS was used in this story.
