Late Friday night after a fire broke out at a warehouse party in Oakland, California it is reported that at least 9 people were killed and over a dozen missing. This morning some reports report as many as a possibility of 25 people who are unaccounted for. The local sheriff officials fear the most that as many as 40 people could have died in the fire.
The event was at a warehouse in the city’s Fruitvale neighborhood on the corner of 31st Ave and International Blvd hosting for musicians Golden Donna’s 100% Silk tour. Artists such as Cherushii, Nackt, Russell Butler, and more were on the line up held at the warehouse that also doubles as a live work space housing around 50 local artists.
The fire was first reported around 11:30 pm local time and by 4 am it was still not under control. About 55 firefighters were battling the fire, and the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, leaving many of us to wonder what transpired. In addition authorities stated that the building’s smoke detectors were not activated by the fire along with no sprinkler system set in place.
This is definitely a nightmare scenario and a complete tragedy. The label 100% Silk has thanked everyone who has reached out sending their prayers and positivity hoping for the best. Now the event’s Facebook page is an active thread for friends and family to check on the status of those who are still missing. Police are warning that anyone who is looking for missing persons that possibly could be involved with this fire to contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau.
UPDATE (12/4): As of Sunday evening, 33 bodies had been recovered from the warehouse in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. Making a tragic disaster even more crushing is the fact that several of the fatalities included minors under 17 years of age. Alameda Country Sheriff Sgt. Ray Kelly expects the death toll to rise as firefighters and other investigators are able to completely assess the burnt wreckage of a building that was known as the Ghost Ship.
Pitchfork reports that one of the confirmed fatalities is Cash Askew, a member of Bay Area band Them Are Us Too. In addition, another confirmed victim of the fire is the EDM group Knife Party’s VJ Johnathan Bernbaum who worked as the visual artists for their performances.
UPDATE (12/5): As of Monday morning, the death toll has risen to 36 and a criminal investigation team has arrived to the scene of the warehouse fire. Only 30% of the building has been searched so far expecting the death toll to rise as the search continues.
The Los Angeles based record label that hosted the event 100% Silk reports that two of the artists that performed Cherushii (Chelsea Faith Dolan) and Nackt (Johnny Igaz) still remain unaccounted for according to the label’s co-owner, Amanda Brown.
The Ghostship lacked proper permits to host entertainment events along with being under investigation for its conditions, electrical wiring issues, and unlicensed interior building structures.
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