Why is this in the Pit? Normally, this kind of story goes in MPSIMS.
What a horrible tragedy. I’ve attended events and known people who live in similar spaces. It’s an area where housing is stunningly expensive-- the average rent for a one bedroom apartment is $2400-- and many people make use of informal living spaces of various types.
See the post above yours. Some miserable old bastard wants to say He Told Us So and They Deserve It For Being “Cool.”
Horrible tragedy, so sorry for the victims and their loved ones.
It’s hard for me to believe there wasn’t anyone living there, regardless of whether they were “supposed” to be there. Housing prices in the Bay Area are very high, and the artists who hang out at places like this are typically young and broke.
The neighbors of this warehouse had complained to the city about late night parties, trash and other nuisances. The city started an investigation last month, but the place burned down before the investigation got anywhere. I’m sure the place would have been red-tagged if city inspectors had gotten a look inside. One thing that’s been reported on the local TV news is that the only exit from the second floor of the building was down a staircase made up mostly of wooden pallets.
Some people have responded to Derick Ion’s Facebook post by saying they tried to warn him about how dangerous that warehouse was, and that he just laughed in reponse. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the guy were charged with multiple counts of manslaughter.
Yeah, I agree. I was just quoting the owners, but of course they’re going to say that.
Looks like a theme restaurant gone mad.
The pictures of the (pre-fire) interior make this impossible to believe.
I guess I missed the “they deserve it” part.
And not a single smoke alarm. :eek:
Looks like a TGIFridays fucked the corpse of a Long John Silvers then pushed it down a flight of stairs.
Looks like my kinda place…really sad for loss of life.
Pitting the fire inspectors etc seems more appropriate tho…
I’ve seen antique shops here on the ca. coast that were just packed to the walls and ceilings with stuff…I wonder what the rules are for " stuff density"?
The death toll is up to 24, with 80% of the building still to be searched:
This has since been deleted. Fake account (of what happened) or preparing for a lawsuit?
Agreed.
Also, this must have been one fast moving fire.
I don’t read that at all. Trying to inhabit, work in and sleep in a huge building manifestly not set up for safe occupation is dancing on a third rail, no matter how young, cool, handsome or artistic you are.
Packing said building with the underage, the inebriated and the out of control is two-footing it on the third rail and a ground rail.
It appears to have been, but apparently most people were on a second floor (and being a warehouse, I assume that means 12-15 feet up or more), with a rickety “staircase” of stacked pallets being the only exit.
It only takes a small fire with copious smoke, near or involving the pallets (which tend to be softwood and/or oil), a few panicky people knocking it down, and what you have is a giant barbecue grill. Even those compos enough to find their way out were likely lost in the dark, smoke and panicing crowd, with the only escape jumping 15-20 feet to the ground.
Being 20 with a gallery showing and looks like James Dean doesn’t make you bulletproof, kids.
From the poster
He says:
Presumably the rules would depend on whether the place is a warehouse (its nominal category) or an art workshop / funky residence / concert venue (apparent actual usage).
[QUOTE=LittlePig]
… this must have been one fast moving fire.
[/quote]
Based on what the pictures show, no other kind would have been possible.
But not before being copied to other sites.
That account certainly feels honest. While the author is likely to be required to testify, I think he’s unlikely to be in trouble for his posting.
Had I seen the Ghostship’s website, or been there myself, a few days ago, I would have thought it was a really cool place. Now I just see it as the deathtrap it was. 
The confirmed death toll is now 30 and only about 1/5 of it has been inspected. I also heard earlier that identifying some of them may be challenging because they are transgendered and may use more than one identity.