Apparently there were no active sprinkler systems or smoke detectors in the building.
At least nine people died in a massive fire that destroyed a northern California warehouse during an electronic music party early Saturday morning and officials said the building had no sprinkler system.
Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said that at least another 25 people are still unaccounted for after the deadly blaze started around 11:30pm in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue during an event advertised as ‘Rave Cave’ featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour.
‘We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,’ Deloche-Reed said.
She added that there was no sprinkler system and that firefighters saw no evidence that smoke detectors were activated during the blaze. Arson investigators are being called to the scene to investigate. ‘Right now there’s 25 names of people that have not been accounted for,’ Deloach-Reed said.
‘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.
‘This is a true loss for the city, for the firefighters who responded, and the people who lost family and friend. It’s just tragic, a real tragedy.’ The fire is thought to be one of the deadliest single-structure fires in Oakland’s history.
Between 50 to 100 people were at the party which started at 9pm and was supposed to last until 4am, officials say.