In Interview, Oakland Ghost Ship Founder Deflects Blame For Deadly Fire

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Kelly refused to say whether fire officials had visited the warehouse before the blaze. “We will leave no stone unturned”.

At KQED Arts, Gabe Meline wrote about the “excruciating heartbreak” of the fire, and explained the role unsanctioned, DIY artist spaces such as the “Ghost Ship” play for the communities that love them.

The call about the fire in the Fruitvale neighborhood came in at around 11:30 p.m, reported the New York Times.

“I’m just praying and thanking the higher power that I made it out”, he said. Meanwhile, the rest of the family prayed that he would be found unconscious somewhere – but alive.

Oakland Battalion Fire Chief Melinda Drayton says crews are removing debris “bucket by bucket” in a thoughtful, compassionate way. “It just looked like a fire waiting to happen”, one former resident told the Guardian. He was in his loft when he heard someone call for an extinguisher.

Investigators found the location where the fire began, but the cause of the blaze has not been determined, she said.

He grabbed his dogs and rushed to the front door where he fell into others trying to escape, he said.

Neighbor Phyllis Waukazoo said her family befriended the couple’s oldest daughter, now 12 or 13, when they realized how neglected the children were. He took really good care of me.

Eleven victims have already been identified, with the families of those still missing being asked to submit DNA samples to investigators.

Hundreds of people holding candles honored those who died in the fire at a vigil Monday night in Oakland’s Lake Merritt.

A tearful Tammy Tasoff, 29, called Peter Wadsworth a best friend who was like an older brother to her.

The blaze erupted during a dance party late Friday night. “I need you to pull me out”, a distraught Mulé recalled the artist saying.

Brito remembered “getting outside and realizing that there are no fire trucks here yet, there was nobody here”.

Despite the safety hazards, spaces like Ghost Ship are not rare in Oakland or in many areas across the United States that have become homes and gathering points for artists and creative types.

He says about 20 people lived there as part of a collective of young artists and that he was like the group’s grandfather.

Officials said they expect to uncover more fatalities from the wreckage of the club in Oakland – with a “significant number” of people still missing. Gallo said Almena essentially told authorities to “mind their own business” and appeared resistant to addressing complaints and complying with city codes. He said he’s concerned that many of them are being used as illegal dwellings given the dearth of affordable housing in the area.

The building had a history of violationsThe Ghost Ship had a permission to operate as a warehouse, but not a party site. He would organize her messy files, give her advice and fix her computer if she needed help, said Tasoff, a dental student.

Former residents have described the warehouse as a warren of wooden structures, studios with statues, art work, hanging rugs and other eclectic stuff strewn about. “I didn’t think it was going to last this long before it went up or somebody shut it down”. “Those poor people. They had no idea how unsafe that building was”.

Sergeant Kelly said earlier that the victims were believed to be people in their 20s. He was kind, open, non-judgemental and excited about life and people. “Charges could be murder or voluntary manslaughter.we don’t know until we finish our investigation”, said O’Malley.