Saturday, December 3, 2016

Re: [californiadisasters] At least 9 dead, many missing in fire at Oakland party



Nothing else to say but Aw, SHIT.  Here's hoping as many as possible made it out and that they find no more bodies. :(

PA


From: "Kim Noyes kimnoyes@gmail.com [californiadisasters]" <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com>
To: CaliforniaDisasters <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com>; Flamescan <bayscan@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2016 9:25 AM
Subject: [californiadisasters] At least 9 dead, many missing in fire at Oakland party

 

At least 9 dead, many missing in fire at Oakland party

By Jill Tucker, Kevin Fagan and Hamed Aleaziz
Updated 8:52 am, Saturday, December 3, 2016
At least nine people were killed and a total of 25 people were unaccounted for after a fire tore through a party at an artists collective in Oakland, authorities said.
The fire ignited around 11:30 p.m. Friday night in a hulking warehouse at 31st Avenue and International Boulevard, in the Fruitvale neighborhood, while a crowd of as many as 100 people were inside for a performance by the Golden Donna 100 Percent Silk touring music show.
Firefighters said that some of the victims might have been trapped in the blaze when they couldn't escape down a makeshift, one-way stairwell leading to the second floor that was built out of wooden pallets.
"We've done a preliminary search and we are up to nine known fatalities," Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed said at the scene. "There's still a still a lot of the building that needs to be searched."
As the fire engulfed the massive building north of Interstate 880, people streamed into the street outside. The roof collapsed, and firefighters had difficulty getting inside.
On social media, friends of the victims and the many missing partygoers desperately sought information, particularly on the Golden Donna tour site, asking for people to confirm who got out of the building — and in some cases expressing grief for those believed to be dead.
"My prayers are with each and every family member of a victim or mossing (sic) person. Oakland, Ca is in mourning. How such a fun event has now becomes a sad and devastating event...," posted one. "Tragic loss for our community," posted another. Others were listing names of victims.
Authorities were asking those who had information about missing people to contact the Alameda County coroner's office and in some cases relay details. The office was preparing to take what could be dozens of bodies, said spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson.
"Right now there's 25 names of people that have not been accounted for," said Deloach Reed. "We're not sure if they have already self-transported to the hospital or they have gone to friend's home. We're not sure."
North of the location at Eli's Mile High Club, a half-dozen musicians who were friends of the act — which was touring from Los Angeles — and the audience gathered to wait and mourn. They paced, staring at their phones, waiting anxiously to hear from those who were still unaccounted for.
"There are people unaccounted for, they're just not responding," Billy Agan, owner of Eli's, said. He heard of the fire soon after it broke out, and said he hadn't slept all night.
The music party was scheduled from 9 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday, and dozens of people were inside when the fire exploded.
Deloach Reed said most of the people who died were on the second floor, which was accessible by the "makeshift stairwell." There was no evidence of a sprinkler system, she said.
"We know it was going to be difficult if it started anywhere near that stairwell," the chief said of efforts to flee and attempts by firefighters to rescue people.
It was not immediately clear what ignited the fire or where exactly it started, the chief said. She said a multiagency task force was gathering to investigate the fire and take up the task of recovering victims.
"The building is a huge building," Deloach Reed said. "There's going to have to be a methodical way we go about body recovery, and then also trying to find out where the fire started and how the fire's spread took place. ... We have not done a complete search of the building."
As she spoke, the building was scarred by black burn marks. Firefighters were on a portion of the roof examining the damage. No firefighters have been reported injured.
On another Facebook page, one associated with the building, people posted names of friends that were unaccounted for, hoping to hear good news. One message said, "Prayers to all the beautiful people lost in this fire, and prayers for the ones who have survived."
A party listing detailed musical acts and deejays. It said a "secret East Oakland location" was to be be announced on the same day as the event. Tickets were $10 before 11 p.m., and $15 after that.
The fire chief said the scope of the fire was only just beginning to be fathomed, and that it represented a tragedy for many families.
"It's going to hit the city, its going to hit our organization, to have an incident of this type, of this magnitude," she said. "It's just going to be hard on everyone."

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/At-least-9-dead-many-missing-in-fire-at-Oakland-10689139.php





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Posted by: Pamela Alley <rnrq@att.net>


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