The city of Oakland is continuing to sort through the remains of the Ghost Ship, the warehouse in the Fruitvale District that burned down during a party on Friday night. Thirty-six people have now been confirmed dead, with about a third of the building yet to be searched. The site is now an active crime scene.
Fire and law enforcement officials suspended their search because they’re worried the remaining walls of the building could collapse.
Over the weekend, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf held a press conference to discuss how to move forward from one of the nation’s deadliest fires in half-a-century.
SCHAAF: This is a devastating scene. This is complicated, and it's going to take us time to do the methodical, thorough, and professional investigation that these families deserve to find out what in fact happened.
The Alameda County District Attorney and arson inspectors have begun an investigation. Several artists reportedly lived in the space that was not permitted for habitation, and the city had issued a citation last month.
The tragic fire has generated international coverage, and plenty of social media expression from the Bay Area arts community. Artist Favianna Rodriguez was born and raised in Fruitvale district, where the Ghost Ship warehouse is located. She’s also the co-founder of an arts space in East Oakland — the Eastside Arts Alliance.
Yesterday, Rodriguez wrote a Facebook post that both acknowledged the heartbreak of the tragedy, but also sought to rectify what she sees as an oversimplification of Oakland’s arts scene in news articles and opinion pieces.
She spoke with KALW’s Jen Chien from her studio in West Oakland.
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If you have any information relevant to the investigation call the DA hotline at: 1-877-288-2883.
The counseling and logistical support hotline for victims and those close to them is: 1-510-272-6180.
