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Oakland fire: Nine die during California club night | Oakland fire: Nine die during California club night |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least nine people have died in a fire during a club night near San Francisco, authorities say. | At least nine people have died in a fire during a club night near San Francisco, authorities say. |
Authorities said they were preparing for the death toll to rise as high as 40. | |
The fire started at 23:30 local time on Friday (07:30 GMT Saturday) in Oakland, police told the BBC. | The fire started at 23:30 local time on Friday (07:30 GMT Saturday) in Oakland, police told the BBC. |
The venue was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna. The event's Facebook page indicates a number of people are missing. | The venue was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna. The event's Facebook page indicates a number of people are missing. |
Oakland fire chief Teresa Deloche-Reed said the building contained between 50 and 100 people when the fire started. | |
The building housed artists in studios, it said. It did not appear to be a formal concert venue. Ms Deloche-Reed told reporters that the only exit from the second floor was a staircase made from wooden pallets. | |
She said firefighters did not hear smoke alarms when they arrived at the scene. | She said firefighters did not hear smoke alarms when they arrived at the scene. |
The power to the building has now been switched off and a structural engineer has given the fire department the go-ahead to enter the building, Ms Deloche-Reed said. Specialist rescue teams were on site, she added. | |
One of the artists who lived in the building, photographer Bob Mule, told the East Bay Times he tried but failed to help a friend get out. | One of the artists who lived in the building, photographer Bob Mule, told the East Bay Times he tried but failed to help a friend get out. |
"I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke," he said. "I couldn't get the fire extinguisher to work." | "I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke," he said. "I couldn't get the fire extinguisher to work." |
Ms Deloche-Reed told the newspaper the building had no sprinkler system. | |
Videos posted on social media by the fire department showed a large fire burning through the roof of the building. Three fire engines were called out. | Videos posted on social media by the fire department showed a large fire burning through the roof of the building. Three fire engines were called out. |
The event's Facebook page said the event, that featured seven acts, was to be held in a secret location in the east of Oakland, that was announced only on the day it was held. | The event's Facebook page said the event, that featured seven acts, was to be held in a secret location in the east of Oakland, that was announced only on the day it was held. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the fire? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures and experiences. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the fire? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures and experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |