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| California Today: What We Know and Don’t Know About the Oakland Fire | California Today: What We Know and Don’t Know About the Oakland Fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| (Want to get California Today by email? Sign up.) | (Want to get California Today by email? Sign up.) |
| As of early Monday, at least 36 bodies had been recovered from the ruins of a warehouse in Oakland that was engulfed in fire as young people gathered Friday night for a party. | |
| Officials warned that the toll would likely rise. | Officials warned that the toll would likely rise. |
| The authorities said on Monday morning that firefighters had located an area of the building in which they believed the fire may have started. They needed “days” to process the scene while ensuring their own safety inside the precarious structure. | |
| Melinda Drayton, Oakland Fire Department battalion chief, on Sunday said the work had been somber. | |
| “It was quiet, it was heartbreaking,” she said, choking back emotion during a news conference. | “It was quiet, it was heartbreaking,” she said, choking back emotion during a news conference. |
| Other things we know: | Other things we know: |
| • Who are the victims? | • Who are the victims? |
| The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office released the names of seven victims on Sunday. | The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office released the names of seven victims on Sunday. |
| They were: | They were: |
| — Cash Askew, 22, of Oakland | — Cash Askew, 22, of Oakland |
| — David Clines, 35, of Oakland | — David Clines, 35, of Oakland |
| — Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, of Coronado | — Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, of Coronado |
| — Sara Hoda, 30, of Walnut Creek | — Sara Hoda, 30, of Walnut Creek |
| — Travis Hough, 35, of Oakland | — Travis Hough, 35, of Oakland |
| — Donna Kellogg, 32, of Oakland | — Donna Kellogg, 32, of Oakland |
| — Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32, of Hayward | — Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32, of Hayward |
| The name of an eighth victim, a 17-year-old, was withheld. | The name of an eighth victim, a 17-year-old, was withheld. |
| Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the agony of the wait for family members, but said identification of additional bodies would take time. He said more than half of the warehouse had to still be searched. | Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the agony of the wait for family members, but said identification of additional bodies would take time. He said more than half of the warehouse had to still be searched. |
| “We have contacted every family member,” Sergeant Kelly said. “We have sat down with them. We have cried with them. We have spent hours and hours with them.” | “We have contacted every family member,” Sergeant Kelly said. “We have sat down with them. We have cried with them. We have spent hours and hours with them.” |
| The toll already makes the fire among Oakland’s deadliest. The Oakland Hills fire of 1991 killed 25 people and destroyed 3,000 houses. | The toll already makes the fire among Oakland’s deadliest. The Oakland Hills fire of 1991 killed 25 people and destroyed 3,000 houses. |
| • What was the warehouse used for? | • What was the warehouse used for? |
| The fire tore through a two-story structure called the Ghost Ship, in the Fruitvale neighborhood, which was used as a live-in and work space for a loose tribe of striving artists. | The fire tore through a two-story structure called the Ghost Ship, in the Fruitvale neighborhood, which was used as a live-in and work space for a loose tribe of striving artists. |
| Images of the interior captured before Friday showed it cluttered with art, antiques and musical instruments beneath exposed wooden rafters. | Images of the interior captured before Friday showed it cluttered with art, antiques and musical instruments beneath exposed wooden rafters. |
| The building had a permit to operate as a warehouse, but not a residence or party site. It had been under investigation for code violations. | The building had a permit to operate as a warehouse, but not a residence or party site. It had been under investigation for code violations. |
| A criminal investigation was opened on Sunday. | A criminal investigation was opened on Sunday. |
| • How did the fire unfold? | • How did the fire unfold? |
| On Friday, dozens of people congregated for an event with electronic music. | On Friday, dozens of people congregated for an event with electronic music. |
| Firefighters arrived just before midnight to a roaring fire and thick smoke pouring into the sky. The roof and part of the second floor collapsed. | Firefighters arrived just before midnight to a roaring fire and thick smoke pouring into the sky. The roof and part of the second floor collapsed. |
| The authorities said the building lacked sprinklers and had only two exits. An ad hoc staircase was made out of wooden pallets. | The authorities said the building lacked sprinklers and had only two exits. An ad hoc staircase was made out of wooden pallets. |
| The authorities said they have not yet been able to determine how or where the inferno started. But witnesses said it spread with ferocious speed. | The authorities said they have not yet been able to determine how or where the inferno started. But witnesses said it spread with ferocious speed. |
| Nikki Kelber, a survivor, told The Times that she spotted the fire in a hallway and had seconds to react. “After 15 seconds, the power went out, and another 30 seconds later it was completely engulfed,” she said. “It went so fast.” | Nikki Kelber, a survivor, told The Times that she spotted the fire in a hallway and had seconds to react. “After 15 seconds, the power went out, and another 30 seconds later it was completely engulfed,” she said. “It went so fast.” |
| Read more in The Times about problems inside the Ghost Ship. | Read more in The Times about problems inside the Ghost Ship. |
| • The Ghost Ship victims were young, creative and enjoying life. [East Bay Times] | • The Ghost Ship victims were young, creative and enjoying life. [East Bay Times] |
| • Past fires at theaters and nightclubs have also taken deadly tolls. [The New York Times] | • Past fires at theaters and nightclubs have also taken deadly tolls. [The New York Times] |
| • “Life is not going to be the same”: The killing of a U.S.C. professor has left colleagues shaken. [Los Angeles Times] | • “Life is not going to be the same”: The killing of a U.S.C. professor has left colleagues shaken. [Los Angeles Times] |
| • Lawmakers are moving to enact legislation to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. [The New York Times] | • Lawmakers are moving to enact legislation to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. [The New York Times] |
| • Liberals are rediscovering the potential advantages of states’ rights. [Opinion | The New York Times] | • Liberals are rediscovering the potential advantages of states’ rights. [Opinion | The New York Times] |
| • Did a California charter school group finance an effort to overthrow the Turkish government? [LA Weekly] | • Did a California charter school group finance an effort to overthrow the Turkish government? [LA Weekly] |
| • Soft power: How Silicon Valley holds sway in China, despite censorship. [The New York Times] | • Soft power: How Silicon Valley holds sway in China, despite censorship. [The New York Times] |
| • Get past the embarrassment, and Snap’s Spectacles offer a compelling gadget experience. [The New York Times] | • Get past the embarrassment, and Snap’s Spectacles offer a compelling gadget experience. [The New York Times] |
| • In the Sierra Nevada, California’s main forest fire problem lies in not letting forests burn. [Opinion | The New York Times] | • In the Sierra Nevada, California’s main forest fire problem lies in not letting forests burn. [Opinion | The New York Times] |
| • Sammy Lee, the California diver who became the first Asian-American to win Olympic gold, died at 96. [The New York Times] | • Sammy Lee, the California diver who became the first Asian-American to win Olympic gold, died at 96. [The New York Times] |
| • Learning to love the “Persian Palaces” of Beverly Hills. [Curbed Los Angeles] | • Learning to love the “Persian Palaces” of Beverly Hills. [Curbed Los Angeles] |
| • Michael Lewis’s new book explores how the “Moneyball” revolution began with a bromance between two psychologists. [The New York Times] | • Michael Lewis’s new book explores how the “Moneyball” revolution began with a bromance between two psychologists. [The New York Times] |
| • On Thursday, U.C. San Diego will host “Water in the West,” a round table of experts discussing water use in California. It’s free to the public. | • On Thursday, U.C. San Diego will host “Water in the West,” a round table of experts discussing water use in California. It’s free to the public. |
| • California is the capital of Christmas boat parades. Among those holding events this weekend: San Diego, Dana Point, Huntington Beach and Discovery Bay. | • California is the capital of Christmas boat parades. Among those holding events this weekend: San Diego, Dana Point, Huntington Beach and Discovery Bay. |
| • The Los Angeles premiere of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is Saturday. Hollywood will be shutting down streets. | • The Los Angeles premiere of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is Saturday. Hollywood will be shutting down streets. |
| • On Sunday, the comedian T.J. Miller will host this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards. The Los Angeles love story “La La Land” leads the pack with 12 nominations. | • On Sunday, the comedian T.J. Miller will host this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards. The Los Angeles love story “La La Land” leads the pack with 12 nominations. |
| As Christmas trees go, giant sequoias don’t normally spring to mind. | As Christmas trees go, giant sequoias don’t normally spring to mind. |
| And yet, amid the soaring redwoods of California stands the nation’s official Christmas tree. | And yet, amid the soaring redwoods of California stands the nation’s official Christmas tree. |
| General Grant Tree, a giant sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park, measures 267 feet tall, more than 34 feet in diameter and about 1,650 years in age. | General Grant Tree, a giant sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park, measures 267 feet tall, more than 34 feet in diameter and about 1,650 years in age. |
| Legend has it that the notion of associating the General Grant with the winter holiday originated when a young girl beheld the great tree and remarked, “What a wonderful Christmas tree it would be.” | Legend has it that the notion of associating the General Grant with the winter holiday originated when a young girl beheld the great tree and remarked, “What a wonderful Christmas tree it would be.” |
| The residents of the nearby city of Sanger liked the idea and petitioned President Calvin Coolidge to make it the national Christmas tree. He agreed, proclaiming it so in 1926. | The residents of the nearby city of Sanger liked the idea and petitioned President Calvin Coolidge to make it the national Christmas tree. He agreed, proclaiming it so in 1926. |
| Ever since, Sanger (population: 25,000) has identified closely with the holiday. | Ever since, Sanger (population: 25,000) has identified closely with the holiday. |
| “We are known as the Christmas tree city here in California,” said Raul Cantu, Sanger’s mayor pro tempore. | “We are known as the Christmas tree city here in California,” said Raul Cantu, Sanger’s mayor pro tempore. |
| Each year on the second Sunday of December, the chamber of commerce holds a ceremony at General Grant Tree. | Each year on the second Sunday of December, the chamber of commerce holds a ceremony at General Grant Tree. |
| Speeches are given, carols are sung and a wreath is placed at the foot of the tree. | Speeches are given, carols are sung and a wreath is placed at the foot of the tree. |
| Anyone is welcome, Mr. Cantu said. This year’s event is scheduled on Sunday. | Anyone is welcome, Mr. Cantu said. This year’s event is scheduled on Sunday. |
| California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. | California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. |
| The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter. | The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter. |
| California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley. | California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley. |