OAKLAND, CA — The death toll continues to climb after a tragic fire broke out late on Dec. 2 at a warehouse used for an all-night rave party in Oakland, CA. The structure was being used as an artists’ studio collective and was not permitted for either events or residential use, although there were numerous reports of the building being used for both.
By early Dec. 5, the number of victims recovered from the gutted building was at 36, although this number was expected to increase as nearly two thirds of the warehouse is yet to be searched, with the recovery effort hampered by the imminent danger of collapse of the fire-weakened structure thus endangering emergency personnel.
The fast-moving fire began around 11:30 p.m. during the late night EDM dance party, which was initially expected to continue to 4 a.m. Dec. 3. Because the fire was accompanied by a loss of power, authorities believe it may have been electrical in nature, although final determination of the cause will probably not be ascertained for some time.
Besides a lack of adequate exits, sprinklers and emergency lighting, other factors in the loss of lives include the building’s maze-like interior layout of temporary walls, large artwork pieces and mannequins throughout the main floor.
Additionally, access to the warehouse’s upper story via a makeshift staircase assembled from shipping pallets — which are both unstable and highly flammable — may have been a factor in trapping victims in the top floor.
The building — ironically nicknamed the “Ghost Ship” — is located on 31st Avenue in the city’s Fruitvale district, a mixed-use area that combines residential homes and apartments bordering the business district along the city’s International Boulevard.
