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How we covered the story The presentation below summarizes our breaking news coverage over the 24-hour period following the Ghost Ship disaster, in stories, photos, videos, tweets and alerts. The coverage narrative is provided in the sections with a light blue background, while the coverage itself has a white background.

THE MAIN NEWS STORY Our reporting began about 3:45 a.m. Saturday morning with a call from a police source to Harry Harris, our longtime Oakland cops reporter; the first version of the story — which we believe was the first media report raising the specter of many casualties — published at 4:13 a.m. Over the next eighteen hours we published seven major updates of the story and dozens of minor revisions as our team in the field grew to 17 reporters and photographers. ORIGINAL STORY: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 4:13 A.M

Oakland: Massive fire at live-work space in Fruitvale district By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected]

OAKLAND — A massive fire at a Fruitvale district live work space has reportedly left an unconfirmed number of people dead died at an East Oakland work space, authorities said. The fire apparently broke out about 11:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue. No other information was immediately available. Check back for updates. FIRST UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 5:17 A.M.

Over the first hour, Harris was limited to talking with the firefighters working the blaze about the details of their efforts and what they had heard about the event at the Ghost Ship the night before. No one had yet entered the building to begin counting casualties. A photographer and second reporter joined Harris, but it was as yet unclear how significant the story was.

Oakland: Some feared dead after massive fire at live-work space By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected]

OAKLAND — A massive fire has destroyed a Fruitvale district live-work space where a party was taking place Friday night, authorities said, and it is believed that some have died in the blaze. The fire apparently broke out about 11:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. Fire officials said they were told that a party involving 30 to 70 people was underway when fire began, and they were trying to account for everyone who was there. Police said there are reportedly casualties in the fire, but more information wasn’t immediately available. Some people have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The blaze brought 55 firefighters to the scene, near the corner of 31st Avenue and International Boule-

vard. Battalion chief Lisa Baker said crews found flames on three sides of the building. Firefighters aggressively attacked the blaze inside the structure when conditions changed and they had to go back outside. As of 4:20 a.m., the fire had not been officially declared under control, and there was still smoke coming from the an upper floor of the building. Fire officials were waiting for a structural engineer to arrive on the scene before they entered the building to do a more thorough search. Check back for updates. RAY CHAVEZ/STAFF

First photo online at 5:30 a.m.: Staff photographer Ray Chavez took this photo shortly after our first online bulletin, and posted it before the first official news conference.

SECOND UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 6:28 A.M. Once firefighters extinguished the blaze and begin to enter the building, they found nine bodies fairly quickly, but could not dig too deeply into the building because of a fear the remaining structure would collapse. By this time, the second reporter working the story began to find evidence on social media of the scope of the event, and it became clear the death toll would shoot far higher.

Oakland: At least 9 dead after fire during party at live-work space Fire department video: twitter.com/OaklandFireLive/status/804960285333147648 By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected] and MALAIKA FRALEY | [email protected] OAKLAND — At least nine people died in a fire that broke out late Friday at a Fruitvale district livework space, Oakland fire officials said. Another 13 people were unaccounted for, Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said, after the blaze tore through the building at about 11:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue during an event 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,” DelocheReed said. Friends and family of party-goers were on social media early Saturday looking for confirmation their loved ones are safe. Some are posting and getting information from the party’s Facebook event page. Some have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The blaze brought 55 firefighters to the scene, near the corner of 31st Avenue and International Boulevard. Battalion chief Lisa Baker said crews found flames on three sides of the building. Firefighters aggressively attacked the blaze inside the structure when conditions changed and they had to go back outside. As of 4:20 a.m., the fire had not been officially declared under control, and there was still smoke coming from the an upper floor of the building. Fire officials were waiting for a structural engineer to arrive on the scene before they entered the building to do a more thorough search. On the event’s Facebook page, several people had posted messages about the fire and concerns about people who were there and feared missing. Oakland police said those who were concerned about missing people in the fire should contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau 510-382-3000. Check back for updates.

THIRD UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 7:05 A.M. Around 5:30, Harris located some residents of the Ghost Ship and convinced one to agree to an interview. At about 6 a.m., he pressed the fire chief to hold an impromptu press conference. She acknowledged that the building appeared to have no smoke detectors and no sprinkler system. We swiftly added to our reporting team, setting out on a new line of inquiry about permitting and inspection issues regarding the building. That led to a series of stories you will see later in this first-day report.

Oakland: At least nine dead, 13 missing after massive fire at live-work space party Fire department video: twitter.com/OaklandFireLive/status/804960285333147648 By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected] and MALAIKA FRALEY | [email protected] OAKLAND — At least nine people died in a fire that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party in a Fruitvale district live-work space, Oakland fire officials said. Another 13 people are unaccounted for, Fire Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed said about 6:46 a.m. 6 a.m. Saturday, after the blaze tore through the building in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. The fire started around 11:30 p.m. Friday. Firefighters saw no evidence that smoke detectors were activated during the fire and there was no sprinkler system in the twostory structure, the chief said. “We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,” Deloach-Reed said. The blaze is already being called one of the deadliest single-structure fires in Oakland’s history, if not the deadliest. “This is a true loss for the city, for the firefighters who responded, and the people who lost family and friend. Its just tragic, a real tragedy,” she said. Friends and family of party-goers were on social media early Saturday looking for confirmation their loved ones are safe. Some are posting and getting information from party’s Facebook event page. Some have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The building houses some 50 people and is an artists collective. One, a photographer and artist, said a friend hurt himself and asked for help getting out. Bob Mule said he tried, but couldn’t do it. “It was too hot, too much smoke, I had to get out of there,” said Mule, a photographer and artist who lives at the building and suffered minor burns. “I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke. I couldn’t get the fire extinguisher to work.” When he escaped, he could see someone calling for help from second floor window, and tried to get a ladder, “ but they jumped out the window. The blaze brought 55 firefighters to the scene, near the corner of 31st Avenue and International Boulevard. Battalion chief Lisa Baker said crews found flames on three sides of the building. Firefighters aggressively attacked the blaze inside the structure when conditions changed and they had to go back outside. As of 4:20 a.m., the fire had not been officially declared under control, and there was still smoke coming from the an upper floor of the building. Fire officials were waiting for a structural engineer to arrive on the scene before they entered the building to do a more thorough search. The building had no sprinklers, Deloche-Reed said, and crews did not hear any smoke detectors going off when they arrived. Arson investigators will be called to the scene, the chief said. Oakland police said those who were concerned about missing people in the fire should contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau 510-382-3000. Check back for updates.

FOURTH UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 9:08 A.M. With the scope of the story now far clearer, we added another half-dozen staffers to the story between 7 and 8:30 a.m. Some reporters fanned out around the neighborhood, looking for more Ghost Ship residents and party attendees. Others mined social media, and those more human elements began to flesh out the story.

Oakland: At least 9 dead, 25 missing after massive fire at live-work space party By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected], MALAIKA FRALEY | mfraley@bayareanewsgroup. com, ERIN BALDASSARI | [email protected] and MATTHIAS GAFNI | mgafni@ bayareanewsgroup.com OAKLAND -- In what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland’s history, at least nine people died in a blaze that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space, officials said. The fire tore through the two-story building in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. Friday during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. Most of the nine dead were found on the second floor, and another 25 people are unaccounted for, Fire Chief Teresa DeloachReed said. “We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,” Deloach-Reed said. No firefighters were reported injured while battling the blaze. The blaze is already being called one of the deadliest single-structure fires in Oakland’s history, if not the deadliest. “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,” she said. Friends and family of party-goers were on social media early Saturday looking for confirmation their loved ones are safe. Some are posting and getting information from the party’s Facebook event page. Some have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The building houses some 50 people and is an artists collective. One, a photographer and artist, said a friend hurt himself and asked for help getting out. Bob Mule said he tried, but was thwarted by the intense fire. “It was too hot, too much smoke, I had to get out of there,” said Mule, a photographer and artist who lives at the building and suffered minor burns. “I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke. I couldn’t get the fire extinguisher to work.” When he escaped, he could see someone calling for help from second floor window, and tried to get a ladder, “ but they jumped out the window. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL STORY

FIFTH UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 11:50 A.M. Mid-morning brought more critical information into view. Firefighters were still limited in access to the building because of a fear the burned hulk would collapse, but officials were hearing enough inquiries from the community and seeing enough on social media to set an upper limit of about 40 fatalities. More victims and families of victims gathered and agreed to interviews. Fire chief Teresa Deloach Reed for the first time described the clutter inside the Ghost Ship that had hampered firefighters’ response — and, it turned out, kept partygoers from escaping. Public records revealed the name of the owner of the building.

Oakland: Officials prepare for 40 fatalities after massive fire at live-work space party By HARRY HARRIS | [email protected] and MATTHIAS GAFNI | [email protected] OAKLAND -- In what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland’s history, at least nine people died in a blaze that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space, officials said, and are preparing for handling up to 40 more fatalities. The fire tore through the two-story building in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. Friday during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. Most of the nine dead were found on the second floor, and another 25 people are unaccounted for, Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed said Saturday morning. “We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,” Deloach-Reed said. No firefighters were reported injured while battling the blaze. Alameda County Sheriff’s spokesman Ray Kelly said emergency responders are prepared for a “mass casualty event” that could involve “several dozen fatalities” after firefighters and others gain access to the building. The site, as of 10:45 a.m., was still deemed to unsafe for firefighters to enter. The blaze is already being called one of the deadliest single-structure fires in Oakland’s history, if not the deadliest. “This is a true loss for the city, for the firefighters who responded and the people who lost family and friends,” Deloach Reed said. “It’s just tragic, a real tragedy.” Officials have confirmed that at least nine were dead and another 25 are unaccounted for Saturday morning. Friends and family of party-goers were on social media early Saturday looking for confirmation their loved ones are safe. Some are posting and getting information from the party’s Facebook event page. Some have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The blaze brought 55 firefighters to the scene, near the corner of 31st Avenue and International Boulevard. Battalion chief Lisa Baker said crews found flames on three sides of the building. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL STORY

SIXTH UPDATE: DECEMBER 3, 7:19 P.M. By late afternoon, we had begun to develop reporting about complaints to the city regarding conditions at the building — extracted from the city’s sketchy online databases, since city offices were not open on Saturday. It was becoming clear that the victims had not simply been killed by the fire. They had been killed by the warehouse itself — by the weight and volume of the knick-knacks and artifacts that jammed its tight spaces, by its fire safety deficiencies, by the nature of the people and the events it attracted.

Oakland: Nine bodies removed from burned warehouse; search begins for more victim By JULIA PRODIS SULEK | [email protected], ERIN BALDASSARI | ebaldassari@ bayareanewsgroup.com, TRACY SEIPEL | [email protected] and MATTHIAS GAFNI | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group OAKLAND — In what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland’s history, at least nine people died in a blaze that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space, and firefighters as of late Saturday afternoon had started combing through the burned building. The nine bodies were the most easily accessible ones, those that firefighters had initially identified, said Alameda County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly, adding at a Saturday evening news conference there are still at least two dozen people not yet accounted for. The fire tore through the two-story building in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue, at international Boulevard, at about 11:30 p.m. Friday during an event featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. The building, which was zoned as a warehouse, had been the subject of a number of complaints and may have been LAURA A. ODA/STAFF illegally modified in ways that made it difFriends and relatives of the missing comfort each other outside ficult for partygoers to escape. the Alameda County Sheriff’s substation in Oakland. Most of the nine dead were found on the second floor, fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed said Saturday. “We still have to do a more thorough search of the building and we don’t know the potential number of other victims,” Deloach-Reed said. No firefighters were reported injured while battling the blaze. Kelly said emergency responders were prepared Saturday night for a “mass casualty event” that could involve “several dozen fatalities.” He also said Saturday night that “several dozen” people who were initially reported missing have since been located and are safe. Still, Kelly said he expects the recovery of bodies to take as long as 48 hours. The plan is to “disassemble the building piece by piece and place the debris into bins, Kelly said. Heavy equipment could be seen and heard working on the building by 6 p.m. Saturday. The blaze is already being called one of the deadliest single-structure fires in Oakland’s history, if not the deadliest. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL STORY

SEVENTH UPDATE: DECEMBER 3 AT 9:40 P.M. The night’s final story wove the developing elements of the news together with some of the drama of the tragedy -- after a day of gathering facts, we were able to step back and locate the emotion. Much of that emotion emerged from a surreal scene: the large numbers of family and friends gathered at the coroner’s office, waiting to hear the identities of those who had perished in the blaze. It would take five more days before all the identities were known

At least nine dead, many missing in Oakland warehouse fire By JULIA PRODIS SULEK | [email protected], ERIN BALDASSARI | ebaldassari@ bayareanewsgroup.com, TRACY SEIPEL | [email protected] and MATTHIAS GAFNI | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group OAKLAND — Doomed partygoers trapped on the second floor of a crudely converted warehouse screamed, “Help us! Help us!” as one of the deadliest structure fires in Oakland’s history ripped through a tinderbox of makeshift living spaces and a labyrinth cluttered with art late Friday night, killing at least nine people and possibly dozens more. The blaze broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space occupied by an arts collective, and firefighters late Saturday were combing through the burned building in search of victims — a process they say may take 48 hours and require bulldozers and cadaver dogs. Dozens of people waited for news about their loved ones late Saturday night at the coroner’s office. “It’s like waiting for your name to be called, and if your name is called, it’s going to be the worst day of your life,” Alameda County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Kelly said. “It’s very tense in RAY CHAVEZ/STAFF there.” Oakland Police Chaplain Jayson Landeza, left, Mayor Libby Schaaf and As the horrific scene unfolded Fri- Councilman Larry Reid walk together after a news conference. day night, people banged on windows when they couldn’t escape down the main path to safety: a steep, rickety staircase cobbled together with wooden pallets and plywood. Survivors described a chaotic scene of people desperately trying to help their friends but overcome by fire and smoke. “It was too hot, too much smoke, I had to get out of there,” said Bob Mule, a photographer and artist who lives in the building and who suffered minor burns. “I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke. I couldn’t get the fire extinguisher to work.” When he escaped, he could see someone calling for help from the second-floor window, and tried to ANDA CHU/STAFF get a ladder, “but they jumped out Firefighters stack debris outside the scene of a deadly fire at a live-work the window.” space in Oakland’s Fruitvale district. The building known as the “Ghost Ship” was zoned as a warehouse but had been the subject of a number of complaints about blight and illegal structures inside. On Saturday, city officials acknowledged that inspectors had knocked on the door of the warehouse two weeks ago but left when no one answered. THE COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS STORY IS ITEM #2 IN THIS ENTRY

THE CITY INSPECTION STORY FIRST VERSION: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 11:46 A.M. Resorting to the city of Oakland’s scant online databases because offices were closed on Saturday, we were the first to report that the city knew the Ghost Ship building might contain illegal structures inside, and that it had been investigating the matter the previous month. Our first story posted before noon Saturday.

Oakland warehouse fire: City had launched probe last month into building’s interior structure By THOMAS PEELE | [email protected] OAKLAND — City officials just last month had cited the owner of the 12:35 p.m. warehouse where a deadly fire killed at least nine people late Friday night and had launched an investigation into whether the interior structure was illegal, city records show. Records show a neighbor filed a complaint on Nov. 13 over a “a ton of garbage piling up on the property” at 1305 31st Ave. “Also, a lot of items are left on the sidewalk near the property,” the complaint said. “Some of trash was hazardous. This property is a storage but the owner turned it to become trash recycle site. The yard became a trash collection site and the main building was remodel for residential. The change causes our neighborhood looks very bad and creates health issue.” Records show the next day the city launched an investigation into an illegal interior building structure. The status of that investigation was not clear Saturday morning. The buildings owner is Chor N. Ng of Oakland, according to property records. He bought the warehouse in 1997. Ng owns other properties in Oakland. Check back more for on this developing story. SECOND VERSION: DECEMBER 3, 1:48 PM As we developed our reporting, we made a crucial link: The illegal interior structures the city had investigated were apparently the reason many folks inside the Ghost Ship were unable to escape the blaze (firefighters from the beginning said the warehouse was jammed with material and difficult to navigate). We explored that connection in a story that posted first shortly after 1 p.m., and in a somewhat more sharply edited version just before 2 p.m.

Oakland warehouse fire: City had launched probe last month into building’s interior structure By THOMAS PEELE | [email protected] OAKLAND — City officials last month had launched an investigation into the site of Friday night’s deadly fire for illegal structures built inside the warehouse where the blaze broke out, according to city records. The records show what was called a housing habitability complaint Nov. 14 resulted in an ongoing investigation of an alleged “illegal interior building structure.” An art collective called “Ghost Ship” was occupying the building, which property records show is owned by Chor N. Ng of Oakland. The building is zoned for a warehouse, but had become an art studio and living space — a growing trend in the Bay Area’s white-hot housing market. It had no sprinklers or fire alarms and a few fire extinguishers.

OAKLANDGHOSTSHIP.COM

Firefighters said battling the blaze was made more difficult because of the maze-like array of furniture and artwork.

Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said firefighters had trouble battling the blaze because the space “was filled end-to-end with furniture, what-not, collections ... it was like a maze almost.” A photograph of what the East Bay Express said was the interior of the building shows a finished space with a large rug, lamps, couches, a piano, speakers and art work. City building inspectors wrote in online records Saturday that “some of the victims might have been trapped in the blaze when they couldn’t escape down a makeshift, one-way stairwell leading to the second floor that was built out of wooden pallets.” City inspectors went to the property on Nov. 13 after a complaint of a large amount of garbage dumped outside. A neighbor complained about “a ton of garbage piling up” in vacant lot next to the building, calling it a “trash collection site” and a “trash recycling site.” The building had been “remodeled for residential,” the complaint states. It was during an inspection of that complaint that the illegal structure complaint began, records show. The building’s owner is listed as Chor N. Ng of Oakland, according to property records. He bought the warehouse in 1997. Ng could not be reached Saturday afternoon. Ng, according to property records, bought the warehouse in 1997. She could not be reached Saturday afternoon. Records show Ng owns 11 other Oakland properties and at least two in San Francisco. Ng owns other Oakland properties in Oakland including an art gallery and retail building on International Boulevard. She also owns a business called Kingmaker Marketing and Consulting. Check back more for on this developing story. Staff writer Mathias Gafni contributed to this story.

THIRD VERSION: DECEMBER 3, 2:50 P.M. At a scheduled 2 p.m. press conference, reporters armed with the facts in our stories confronted city officials with questions about the city’s investigation and its knowledge of building code violations inside the Ghost Ship. The officials began to dissemble, but then Mayor Libby Schaaf turned to the director of planning and building and said, “We need to tell them what we know.” So the director revealed that city inspectors had been to the Ghost Ship two weeks earlier to investigate complaints, but had been unable to gain entry. We updated our story immediately and began to deepen that line of reporting as well.

Oakland warehouse fire: Inspectors launched probe last month into building but couldn’t get inside By THOMAS PEELE | [email protected] OAKLAND — City building inspectors last month had launched an investigation into the site of Friday night’s deadly fire for illegal structures built inside the warehouse, but they were unable to get inside the building to inspect it. Officials had cited the building’s owner for blight on Nov. 13 after neighbors complained of “a ton of garbage piling up” in the adjoining lot. They next day, city records show, officials followed what was called a housing habitability complaint and began an investigation of an alleged “illegal interior building structure.” When inspectors returned on Nov. 17, they couldn’t get inside, Darin Ranelletti, Oakland’s interim director of planning and building, said at a news conference this afternoon. An art collective called “Ghost Ship” was occupying the building, which property records show is owned by Chor N. Ng of Oakland. The two-story building is zoned for a warehouse, but witnesses said had become an art studio and living space — a growing trend in the Bay Area’s white-hot housing market. The building had no sprinklers or fire alarms, a few fire extinguishers KGO-TV and only two exits. The roof of the The warehouse had no sprinklers or alarms and only a few extinguishers. building collapsed in the fire onto The roof of the building collapsed in the fire onto the second floor. the second floor. Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said firefighters had trouble battling the blaze because the space “was filled end-to-end with furniture, what-not, collections ... it was like a maze almost.” A photograph of what the East Bay Express said was the interior of the building shows a finished space with a large rug, lamps, couches, a piano, speakers and art work. City building inspectors wrote in online records Saturday that “some of the victims might have been trapped in the blaze when they couldn’t escape down a makeshift, one-way stairwell leading to the second floor that was built out of wooden pallets.” City inspectors went to the property on Nov. 13 after a complaint of a large amount of garbage dumped outside. A neighbor complained about “a ton of garbage piling up” in vacant lot next to the building, calling it a “trash collection site” and a “trash recycling site.” The building had been “remodeled for residential,” the complaint states. It was during an inspection of that complaint that the illegal structure complaint began, records show. “We have reports that people were living in the structure,” Ranelletti said, “but again we are trying to confirm that.” Ng, according to property records, bought the warehouse in 1997. She could not be reached Saturday afternoon. Records show Ng owns 11 other Oakland properties, including an art gallery and retail building on International Boulevard, and at least two in San Francisco. A tenant at one of the Oakland properties would only describe her as a nice woman. She also owns a business called Kingmaker Marketing and Consulting. Check back more for on this developing story. Staff writer Mathias Gafni contributed to this story.

FINAL VERSION: DECEMBER 3, 7:53 PM The day’s final story on the inspection issue explored one more question: After they were unable to gain entry to the Ghost Ship a month earlier, did city inspectors follow up? The apparent answer: No.

Oakland warehouse fire: Inspectors launched probe last month into building but couldn’t get inside By THOMAS PEELE | [email protected], AARON DAVIS | aarondavis@bayareanewsgroup. com and DAVID DEBOLT | [email protected] OAKLAND — Just three weeks before Friday’s deadly fire, city building inspectors had launched an investigation into “illegal structures” built inside the converted warehouse dubbed the “Ghost Ship,” but officials conceded Saturday they had been unable to gain access during an inspection visit and it appears they did not follow up. The revelation sickened family members and survivors of the nine confirmed victims and dozens of others feared dead amid the charred remains occupied by the art collective, which was not permitted for the living area, underground dance club and artists’ studios that firefighters found late Friday night. The quirky, cluttered, wood-filled space — with no smoke alarms or sprinklers — seems to have trapped its inhabitants and visitors inside. Officials had cited the building’s owner for blight on Nov. 13 after neighbors complained of “a ton of garbage piling up” in the adjoining lot. They next day, city records show officials began an investigation of an alleged “illegal interior building structure.” THE COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS STORY IS ITEM #3 IN THIS ENTRY

THE VICTIMS STORY FIRST VERSION: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2:04 P.M. Names of victims were initially slow to trickle out, and social media proved a better source than city officials for the information. We published our first story focused on victims just before 2:30 p.m. A victims’ team developed profiles of each victim over the following week, and all of those stories were collected on a web page here. That page is a separate part of our Pulitzer entry. The families of Alex Vega and Michela Gregory gave regular interviews to our reporters. Their uncertainty — which turned to agony — exemplified the emotions of the community of family and friends surrounding the Ghost Ship victims.

Oakland warehouse fire: Many anxiously wait for updates on loved ones believed to be at party By TRACY SEIPEL | [email protected], ERIN BALDASSARI | ebaldassari@ bayareanewsgroup.com and SAM RICHARDS | [email protected] OAKLAND — Amid the chaos of firefighters, police worried friends and family, media and various others on 31st Avenue midday Saturday, it’s been difficult to get information about loved ones believed to have attended the party Friday night that ended with at least nine people dead, and likely many more. Among the many looking for answers Saturday is Dan Vega. The Oakley resident had been working Saturday morning at his auto mechanic’s job in Pittsburg. He took a break at 10:10 a.m. and was scrolling through Facebook and had happened to see the headline of the Oakland tragedy. Knowing his brother Alex Benjamin Vega and girlfriend Michela Gregory had planned to go an Oakland rave/art party, Dan Vega repeatedly called his brother, but he was put straight into voicemail. He panicked and hurriedly texted, “I hope you’re OK,” and also got no response. “The fact is, his phone is never off,” Dan said through tears. “That’s what troubles me.” Dan Vega was at central gathering place midday Saturday was a family assistance center has been set up at the sheriff’s substation at 2425 E. 12th St. People gathered there were distraught; Dan Vega said he saw about 30 people inside, crying, calling on their cell phones, texting. He wasn’t in there for long. “I figure I’ll get more news outside here quicker than If I go in there,” Vega said. His heart sank late Saturday morning when he heard from someone who had seen Michela Gregory at the party. He was hoping they had gone somewhere else. The pair’s car remained parked near Dan Vega’s mom’s house in San Bruno Saturday; Alex and Michela had taken the train to Oakland. Dan Vega was still wearing his work uniform of black shirt and pants. “I have my work boots, I have

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Dan Vega waits at the Sheriff’s substation in Oakland, hoping for news on his brother, Alex.

gloves, I just want to find him.” The three-alarm fire, first reported at 11:30 p.m. Friday, destroyed a two-story warehouse building in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue, the scene of a concert and party featuring musician Golden Donna’s 100% Silk West Coast tour. In addition to those known dead, at least 25 others believed to be at the party were missing Saturday. Because the burned structure remained unsafe to go into midday Saturday, authorities said the process of getting more information will likely be time consuming. Ray Wan said he wasn’t at the party, but was called around midnight and told about the fire. He showed up to check on three friends, two women and a man, who were DJs at what he described as an underground club party. Wan said the were playing house music at the art collective, which throws the events to raise money for rent. One man who did not want to be named said he had planned to go to the party Friday night but ultimately didn’t. He has friends who were there, though. “It was kind of weird to be sleeping through this,” he said. “Right now, everyone is trying to figure out how to help.” Friends and family of party-goers were also on social media early SatCOURTESY DAN VEGA urday looking for confirmation their loved ones are safe. Some are posting and getting information from party’s Facebook event page. Some Michela Gregory, left, and Alex Vega, are listed as missing and have posted images and messages on Facebook of people they believe were thought to be at the party. are missing, while other have posted that they had escaped safely. The most frustrating part, he said, is “that they won’t let me go over to the scene of the fire.” He’s seen the reports about the various furniture, pianos and art pieces at the warehouse that have hampered firefighting efforts, and may have caused party goers problems, too. About his brother and his longtime girlfriend, Dan Vega said, “They should not have been there.” FINAL VERSION (AFTER SEVEN UPDATES) POSTED AT 8:30 P.M.

Oakland warehouse fire: Many wait for updates on loved ones By TRACY SEIPEL | [email protected], ERIN BALDASSARI | ebaldassari@ bayareanewsgroup.com and KATY MURPHY | [email protected] OAKLAND — Alex Vega always answers his phone. But his brother’s frantic text on Saturday morning — “I hope you’re OK” — got no response. Vega, 22, and his girlfriend of four years, 20-year-old Michela Gregory, are among dozens missing after a Friday night blaze that consumed an artists’ collective in a Fruitvale-area warehouse and killed nine people at a dance party — and possibly many more. Now, a memorial of flowers and candles grows at the site, and their loved ones wait in excruciating agony for news.“I’m just hoping for a miracle at this point,” said David Gregory, Michela’s father, his eyes red from crying. THE COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS STORY IS ITEM #4 IN THIS ENTRY

THE DERICK ION STORY FIRST VERSION: DECEMBER 3, 3:53 P.M. The creator of the Ghost Ship, Derick Ion (Almena), became a controversial figure in the days after the fire. This story captured that controversy as it began to develop; there would be more coverage of Ion as the week developed, and it is included elsewhere in our entry.

Facebook post from leader of Oakland warehouse artist collective sparks controversy By AARON DAVIS | [email protected] OAKLAND — A surreal shouting match Derick Ion erupted on the Facebook page of Derick Ion, the Yesterday at 1:33am purported head of the Oakland Ghost Ship artists collective, after he lamented the loss of “evConfirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone. Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound... erything (he) worked so hard for…” it’s as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and At 2 a.m. Saturday morning, Ion wrote: “Conhope.... to be standing now in poverty of self worth. firmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone. Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound… it’s as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope… to be standing now in poverty of self worth.” Ion, which is a Facebook name for Derick Alemany, was unavailable to comment on Saturday. The message was quickly criticized for Ion’s concern over his material possessions, rather than the lives lost in what one poster described as “a death trap” and a “tinder box.” Others drew comparisons, arguing that they were sorry about “your stuff that served as the fuel that burned our irreplaceable people to death.” Almena The fire broke out Friday night during a rave party in the warehouse in the 1300 block of 31st Ave., trapping dozens of partygoers inside. Nine people were confirmed dead Saturday, and the toll rose to 24 Sunday morning. Authorities feared up to 40 people may have perished in the blaze.

OTHER FIRST DAY ONLINE STORIES PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 3, 8:53 A.M.

Oakland warehouse fire: Where to find info on those missing By EAST BAY TIMES | Bay Area News Group At least nine people were killed and and an estimated 25 people are missing after a fire ripped through an Oakland warehouse where an event featuring the Golden Donna 100% Silk 2016 West Coast Tour was being held Friday night, Dec. 2, 2016. Here is where you can find information on those who are unaccounted for: Oakland police said those who were concerned about missing people in the fire, which broke out in a warehouse at 1305 31st Avenue, should contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau 510-3823000. The Golden Donna 100% Silk 2016 West Coast Tour Facebook page for the event has posted the names of some of those believed to be missing. Facebook turned on its Safety Check so people in the area of the Oakland fire can let friends know they are safe. PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 3, 2:50 PM

Oakland warehouse fire: How to help By SAM RICHARDS | [email protected] OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors and Oakland Raiders are among the agencies around that Bay Area that by Sunday were inviting concerned citizens to join them in pledging money to help people and groups impacted by the deadly Oakland warehouse fire late Friday night that left at least 33 people dead. Warriors officials said Saturday night the team will donate $50,000 to support those impacted by the fire. The donation will be made to the Unity Council, stationed in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, where

the fire occurred. The Raiders on Saturday announced that organization will give up to a $30,000 match for money collected through the youcaring.com crowdfunding page for money contributions set up Saturday morning by the A’s. The baseball club pledged to match those contributions, up to $20,000. But on Sunday, both organizations increased their matches to $50,000. As of 7:30 Sunday, that fund had collected $70,663 from 1,553 donors. To give, go here. Also Sunday, Kaiser Permanente announced an initial contribution of $50,000 to “help with recovery efforts and to assist victims and their families.” “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life as a result of the Oakland warehouse fire and extend our sincere condolences for the victims and families of this tragedy,” Janet Liang, president of Kaiser Permanente Northern California said in a release, noting that Kaiser is working with the City of Oakland in providing assistance. PUBLISHED DECEMBER 3, 9:43 PM

Editorial: Oakland warehouse inferno was preventable By EAST BAY TIMES The Instagram post conveyed the pain: “MISSING! Please any information on my brother and Michaela. Please god let these 2 be ok and let us know please” And with it, a photo of a handsome young couple dressed for a special night, him with a boutonniere in his lapel, her with a wrist corsage. The anguish, terror and fear is not limited to the family of this pair. Thirty-three were confirmed dead by Sunday afternoon and officials did not know how many more victims they would find in the remains of what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland history. Mayor Libby Schaaf promises “a very thorough and methodical investigation so we can discern what in fact happened.” The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has launched a criminal investigation. From what we know so far, this was a disaster waiting to happen. The two-story, 9,880-square-foot building housed dozens of people and was an artist’s collective ominously named “Ghost Ship.” But it was permitted as a warehouse, RAYCHAVEZ/STAFF not as a residence. And not as a party Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has promised a thorough investigation venue, which is what it had been turned of the tragedy that took 36 lives. into Friday night. The Facebook page for the “Golden Donna 100% Silk 2016 West Coast Tour” suggests hundreds planned to attend. There’s a reason governments require permits for residences and entertainment establishments. It’s so infernos like this don’t happen. The accounts so far suggest this was a fire marshal’s worst nightmare. No sprinklers or fire alarms. Only two known exits. A makeshift stairwell build out of wood pallets. One man who lived there described a building littered with electrical wires that sometimes sparked. Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed said firefighters found the space filled end-to-end with furniture. It’s easy to understand how the building went up in smoke and flames so quickly about 11:30 p.m. Friday and why it took firefighters four hours to control the blaze. It’s hard to understand how this could happen. Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo had received numerous complaints about parties at the building and illegal dumping on the property. What happened to those complaints? Inspectors last month had supposedly launched an investigation of garbage piling up on the adjoining lot. That turned into a probe of an illegal interior building structure. When inspectors returned on Nov. 17, they couldn’t get inside. That was 15 days before the fire broke out. What happened since then? Did the inspectors return? Gallo says they apparently didn’t try. And what of those who walked into this death trap on Friday night? Many were young, in their 20s and 30s. Did they not sense danger in this makeshift party venue? So many questions. We await the findings of the investigations. And we mourn for the tragic loss of life that was, by all accounts so far, preventable.

A GRAPHIC LOOK INSIDE Bay Area News Group artists created a schematic look inside the Ghost Ship warehouse for use with first-day stories. Included were images never before seen of the Ghost Ship’s interior. The graphic was first published on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8:54 p.m. INSIDE THE OAKLAND CLUB The Oakland “Ghost Ship” was an artist collective housed in a crowded two-story warehouse. The building may have been illegally modified with living quarters and other unpermitted construction. Most of the dead may have been on the second floor.

First floor lounge area Outside the club Possible exit: Wall broken to access neighboring auto repair shop’s bathroom. Exact location unknown.

First floor

Four windows (ungated)

Lounge areas and living quarters

Front entrance Stairs to second floor Stairs

Makeshift kitchen: Camp stove with butane tanks

Kitchen

Yard

Facing the front entrance

Two windows (ungated)

31st Avenue

Main entrance

North

Second floor

Backstage has bathroom and stairs

Main stage Stage Two windows (gated)

DJ Dance floor Stage

Two windows (ungated)

Main door

Lounge area

Stairs to first floor

Main dance floor

Living area Three windows (gated) Source: Mercury News reporting. Images from oaklandghostship.com and Google Maps

Note: Drawing is schematic

PAI/BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

THE STORIFY VIDEO This video using the Storify format offered a summary of how people were reacting to the Ghost Ship disaster, with a primary focus on social media. It was first posted Saturday, December 3 at 11:20 a.m. Click on any frame to go to the complete video, which is at www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/12/03/ deadly-oakland-warehouse-party-fire-the-reaction-on-social-media.

THE RUNNING BLOG For the first 12 hours after news of the tragedy broke, we updated readers with a running blog on our homepage, fed mostly with the tweets of reporters on the scene. Click on any frame to go to the blog, which is at www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/12/03/oakland-warehouse-fireupdates-from-scene-of-the-tragedy.

FIRST-DAY VIDEO Our staff photographers did Facebook Live broadcasts for each of the three first-day press conferences, and produced videos updating the news at key points during the day. We also acquired witness footage of the fire. News video Posted 9:56 a.m.

Facebook Live video of news conference Posted 11:44 a.m.

Facebook Live video of news conference Posted 2:18 p.m.

Facebook Live video of news conference Posted 6:01 p.m.

News video Posted 5:05 p.m.

News video Posted 8:29 p.m.