Police and fire officials said 36 people died late Friday in a warehouse fire in Oakland.
Here's what we know so far:
- A fire broke out at an Oakland warehouse dubbed "Ghost Ship' where people were having a party. The fire department responded to the warehouse around 11:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Ghost Ship was a warehouse that got converted into an artist studios. The building was hosting an electronic dance party at the time of the fire.
- Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said between 50 and 100 people were at the warehouse at the time of the fire. As of 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 36 victims have been found. Eleven victims have been positively identified. Officials expect the number of victims to rise throughout their search.
- As of Monday morning, work has stopped at the scene because one wall is leaning inward, posing a safety hazard for those who have been searching the structure.
- Authorities believe they've located the section of the building where the fire started, but the cause remains unknown. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has begun its criminal investigation and is looking at this with all of the other law enforcement partners.
- The Oakland Planning Department started an investigation nearly three weeks ago into whether people were illegally living the warehouse. Darin Ranelletti, of the Oakland Planning Department, said the city received reports of people living illegally in the building, which was only permitted as a warehouse. The city opened an investigation on Nov. 13. He says an investigator went to the premises on Nov. 17, but could not gain access to the inside of the building.
