Desperate families and friends of party-goers missing after huge Oakland warehouse blaze killed up

Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | December 3, 2016 | Jenny Stanton

[Cecily]

At least nine people died in a massive fire that destroyed a northern California warehouse that was an artist collective during an electronic music party early Saturday morning and officials said the building had no sprinkler system or working smoke detectors.

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 advertised as 'Rave Cave' 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.'

[editor-surveyor]

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I’ll go with your second guess.
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[editor-surveyor]

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>> “Just last month city officials cited the owner of the warehouse and had launched an investigation into whether the interior structure was illegal” <<

>> “We avoid these places...” << - Good call!
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[SteveH]

Oakland building where fire victims died was source of complaints

By Jill Tucker, Rachel Swan, Erin Allday and J.K. Dineen Updated 5:29 pm, Saturday, December 3, 2016

SFGate

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Building-of-fatal-fire-was-known-as-The-10689319.php?ipid=articlerecirc

I watched the mayor’s press conference held this morning broadcast live on a local TV channel. She said that many more victims were theoretically possible since some of the rave attendees could have come from foreign countries and that their families would generally not be aware of their specific whereabouts.

[SteveH]

It is my impression of other building code enforcement in at least some nearby cities that the building need not be upgraded to the most recent building code if there has been no new construction and if the building remains in use according to its original purpose. The moment that the building is modified, via a construction permit, the building needs to be reviewed according to the latest codes, which then become applicable. However, if the building is used for a purpose other than its intended purpose, such as using an industrial warehouse for a musical performance gathering of many people, that may be (?) a building usage violation of some sort.

here is a link to an interview with Derek Ion, who may be associated with the ownership or tenancy of the building:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35RHugrfL94

[SteveH]

Inside the Oakland Party Fire: One Rickety Staircase in a ‘Tinderbox’

At least nine are dead and 40 are unaccounted for after a building went up in flames Friday night. I was there and saw why it was so dangerous.

Michael Rosen
12.03.16 12:08 PM ET

TheDailyBeast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/12/03/inside-the-oakland-party-fire-one-rickety-staircase-inside-a-tinderbox.html

[Riley]

Reading the comments on the owner’s FB page. Wow, you think they hate *us*? They’d peel him like a grape if they knew where he was.

His post in response to what happened was:

“Derick Ion
18 hrs ·

Confirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone. Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound... it’s as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope.... to be standing now in poverty of self worth.”

[SteveH]

(the following includes a terrifying firsthand account of a last moment escape by one of the survivors)

Reddit Oakland fire comments:

Nine people have been confirmed dead with 25 still unaccounted for after a massive fire broke out during an apparent rave in Oakland, California. (telegraph.co.uk)

submitted 12 hours ago by Vidya_Games

4020 comments share

https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/5ga0nl/nine_people_have_been_confirmed_dead_with_25/daqxs0k/

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks.

When these potentially dangerous places get a load of people drinking, partying or whatever, they can become time bombs that could go off.

[Yaelle]

Oh, how sad. A lot of them are the ages of my older kids. I can’t imagine. Praying.

[submarinerswife]

What really gets me about this is that the inspectors from the city had gone to this place 3 weeks ago but were unable (lazy?) to go inside because of trash blocking the entrance.

[GOYAKLA]

Breaking records as they go.
As the Numb Nuts say, “ Yes we can!”.
Ha ve aGreat day.
G.

[editor-surveyor]

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I’m presently concerned that my CAD draftsman may have been there.

He does digital art, and often displays his work around Oakland, and I have been unable to contact him.
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[editor-surveyor]

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Law enforcement in jOakland is very selective to say the least.