Horror at the rave (San Francisco, Oakland: apartment complexes, condo, hotel)

[citylove101]

Just wanted to extend my condolences to the friends and families lost in the horrible fire in Oakland. Last I heard it was 24 dead. It's just horrible. For the individuals affected and I'd guess for the city as a whole. I hope that this brings some stronger enforcement of building codes and doesn't entirely discourage those in Oaktown's young arts scene. To all the innocent dead, RIP.

[NextStage]

This has been heartbreaking to watch. Personally I fear that the death toll is going to go much higher. From what I understand there's a lot of the building that will have to be slowly and carefully dismantled to prevent danger and injury to those doing the work. The FD and PD seem to be doing really amazing work thus far and those I've seen interviewed are taking it VERY hard.

I've seen a couple interviews with the City Councilman that represents that area. I think he's been frustrated with city enforcement and with owner/managers of this type of building being indifferent and/or feigning ignorance.

RIP to those who have passed and my wishes for peace and resolution for those friends and family members waiting for information.

[Podo944]

It's so heartbreaking to think of all those kids having fun and then the horror of it all.

The "Ghost Ship" as it was known, was a haven for artists and bohemians and I can see the attraction...the pictures of the place make it look so cozy and fun, but it sure looked an accident waiting to happen. It had already been cited by building inspectors, and apparently there were people who were illegally living there.

Pre-Fire Photos From Inside Oakland's 'Ghost Ship' Collective, Which Was Cited Two Weeks Ago By Building Inspectors: SFist

Honestly, it makes me wonder how many other structures are vulnerable with people living in them especially considering the housing situation there.

Reminds me of when I stayed in an old (cheap comparatively) hotel in London and we were put in a room on the 5th floor. I noticed the old wooden staircase and the window outside the room of the brick building had no fire escape. The outside may have survived a fire, but the inside was kindling wood. I was so nervous I stayed awake all night and the next day changed to the first floor.

[HockeyMac18]

It doesn't really change what happened, but I do think labeling this as a rave misinforms what was actually happening here before the fire started. It sounded much smaller and more intimate - basically a big house party (in a big death trap).

So sad - I've been in a few artist warehouses similar to the photos posted above in Berkeley and Oakland before...I've always thought they were mostly death traps, too...

[xani]

Speaking of raves in Oakland...I recall back years ago there was an incident where someone drove by the line to get into one of the raves and opened fire at random. Don't recall if anyone got killed back then, that's when I decided I won't go there again.

Not sure why building inspectors and the city did not take action--they had known about the fire safety situation, as some stated (and named names). Hard to believe in this is happening in the US, in CA especially, with all the building codes and inspectors.
It's 33 people apparently, now. If they can prove the city knew about fire violations, I bet the city will be sued and will lose, as seems like the place never got real enforcement.

One should think twice about going into basements where various events often happen, too....these are death traps.
The area being earthquake zone, one pretty much should assume very high fire and trapping (jammed doors) hazard anywhere, any time, and think of escape routes in advance.

[WizardOfRadical]

Substandard fire trap property in Oakland? Gee never seen that before.

[xani]

Oakland (and other locations in the Bay) have plenty of such properties being used for whatever. Now this needs to stop or someone's heads will fall: too many victims to shove it under the carpet.
They need to bring to code compliance, or sell and walk. May be apartment complexes can be built instead of non-compliant spaces, on these lots, helping to alleviate housing problem. City needs to start condemning these properties if they don't comply to Cal fire.
Criminal charges will be filed in this case, I'm pretty sure.

[HappyinCali]

Just like gun violence, we can't be silent when things like that happen. The city is absolutely at fault for this. They absolutely knew what was happening in that warehouse and looked the other way. In San Francisco Jane Kim fought to keep a warehouse as an artist collective when the owner wanted to revert it back to a warehouse.

I guarantee you that somebody in Oakland government knows about every single warehouse that is used like this and they do nothing. These spaces provide easy solutions to the housing problem for them. Much easier to look the other way than fight NIMBYs and try to build more housing.

I hope the families of the victims sue the crap out of Oakland.

[CaliRestoration]

I sympathize with the deaths of so many artist and young people, but this was 100% preventable. As someone who used to own a 4 unit complex in the Bay Area, I can tell you "Tenant rights" and liberal policies are a huge part of why this place burned down in the first place. Does anyone actually think the conditions in this building were to OSHA safety codes? I bet you $10,000 cash there were multiple violations.

But oh no, we can't impose on these poor democratic liberal artist, that would be too harsh, and possibly racist! So you let them live in a virtual tinder box, doing flame and fire exhibitions and guess what, they burn the place down all around them and kill themselves. This is what happens when you raise young kids to believe that the "rules" are bendable and don't apply to them. These people did not respect the rule of law at all and it cost them their lives.

I feel for the parents of these young people (and the relatives of the older ones), but damn, these liberal hipsters are such hard headed morons, they're literally getting themselves killed with their idiocy.

[sav858]

Leave it to CaliRestoration to use this story as an excuse to spout off about liberals....right on cue as expected.