Oakland 'Ghost Ship' warehouse had history of violations before deadly fire

Oakland ‘Ghost Ship’ warehouse had history of violations before deadly fire

Posted by John P. Bradford // December 3, 2016

City records show citations and charge of illegal interior building structure while former resident says she reported building to fire marshal in 2014

An Oakland warehouse in which a fire killed at least nine people had a history of violations and complaints, city records show. A police spokesman said maybe at least a couple dozen people could have died in the blaze.

Numerous formal complaints were filed about the building, according to city records which included a 14 November housing habitability charge regarding illegal interior building structure.

The documents did not specify the structural problems at the Ghost Ship warehouse, in the Fruitvale neighborhood, but said the citys investigation into that complaint was still pending when the fire broke out late on Friday.

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A former resident of the warehouse, who asked for anonymity because of past confrontations with the buildings management, told the Guardian she reported the building to the fire marshal in 2014, based on fears of a fire.

Fridays fire broke out while a party was taking place. Twenty five people were reported missing. At a Saturday afternoon press conference, Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the Alameda County sheriffs office, said total fatalities could not be determined.

He added: Were expecting the worst, maybe at least a couple dozen people here.

Last month, the city of Oakland also issued a violation notice related to a blight complaint, records show. That citation referenced garbage piling up on the property and items left on the sidewalk.

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Some of trash was hazardous, the complaint said, adding that the problem was creating a health issue for the neighborhood.

The building also faced a blight complaint in 2014, related to trash and construction debris. That violation was eventually corrected, according to records.

City councilman Noel Gallo, who represents the Fruitvale district, told the Guardian building hazards and fire code violations are not uncommon in Oakland.

Its throughout these neighborhoods, said Gallo, who lives near the site of the fire and surveyed the damage early on Saturday morning. We need to enforce the rules. This is the not the first and maybe not the last.

Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf told reporters the building was permitted as a warehouse. Darin Ranelletti, the citys planning and building director, said the city was able to confirm blight reports, but that its investigation into illegal construction within the building was not completed.

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The building was not permitted for residential living and would have required a special permit for a party, he added, none of which had been issued.

By mid-afternoon, firefighters and sheriffs deputies were still searching for those reported missing at the warehouse, which was called the Ghost Ship by locals and used as an art collective, with workplaces and residences.

Fire department officials described the building as maze-like and cluttered with objects, including wooden pallets and makeshift structures.