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2 Men Charged With Manslaughter in Deadly Oakland Fire 2 Men Charged With Manslaughter in Deadly Oakland Fire
(35 minutes later)
OAKLAND, Calif. — Two men were charged on Monday with 36 counts of manslaughter in a deadly fire that took place at an Oakland warehouse in December.OAKLAND, Calif. — Two men were charged on Monday with 36 counts of manslaughter in a deadly fire that took place at an Oakland warehouse in December.
The men, Derick Almena, who had a supervisory role at the building, and Max Harris, were arrested on Monday in connection with the fire, according to Nancy E. O’Malley, the district attorney of Alameda County, who brought the charges.The men, Derick Almena, who had a supervisory role at the building, and Max Harris, were arrested on Monday in connection with the fire, according to Nancy E. O’Malley, the district attorney of Alameda County, who brought the charges.
The warehouse, which was illegally occupied by artists, was the site of the nation’s deadliest structural fire in more than a decade. Most of the victims were attending a party on the second floor and were unable to escape down a makeshift staircase. The warehouse, which was illegally occupied, was the site of the nation’s deadliest structural fire in more than a decade. Most of the victims were attending a party on the second floor and were unable to escape down a makeshift staircase.
The two men “knowingly created a fire trap with inadequate means of escape,” Ms. O’Malley said. The two men “knowingly created a fire trap with inadequate means of escape,” Ms. O’Malley said at a news conference on Monday.
“The paying guests at the event were faced with a nearly impossible labyrinth,” she said. “The building had no fire suppression nor did it have lighted pathways to get out.”“The paying guests at the event were faced with a nearly impossible labyrinth,” she said. “The building had no fire suppression nor did it have lighted pathways to get out.”
Each man faces 39 years in prison, she added Each man faces 39 years in prison, she added.
Ms. O’Malley said the two men had deceived the fire department and the owner of the building.Ms. O’Malley said the two men had deceived the fire department and the owner of the building.
As the master tenant, Mr. Almena had a managerial role among the residents of the warehouse, most of whom were artists seeking an affordable space in a city that has seen sharply rising housing costs in recent years.As the master tenant, Mr. Almena had a managerial role among the residents of the warehouse, most of whom were artists seeking an affordable space in a city that has seen sharply rising housing costs in recent years.
The father of one of the victims, Griffin Madden, said he was surprised that the owner of the building, Chor Nar Siu Ng, was not being charged. Mike Madden, the father of one of the victims, Griffin Madden, said he was surprised that the owner of the building, Chor Nar Siu Ng, was not being charged.
“Our hope is that this aggressive approach continues including pursuing charges against her,” said the father, Mike Madden. “Our hope is that this aggressive approach continues including pursuing charges against her,” Mr. Madden said.
The warehouse, which occupants had dubbed the Ghost Ship, was one block from a fire station and firefighters responded within three minutes of receiving the 911 call on the night of Dec. 2. But the structure, which was filled with wooden antiques and curios, was quickly engulfed in flames and filled with a thick, choking smoke that rose to the second floor.The warehouse, which occupants had dubbed the Ghost Ship, was one block from a fire station and firefighters responded within three minutes of receiving the 911 call on the night of Dec. 2. But the structure, which was filled with wooden antiques and curios, was quickly engulfed in flames and filled with a thick, choking smoke that rose to the second floor.
The party was held without any permit from the city.The party was held without any permit from the city.
The fire highlighted failures in Oakland’s fire inspection system as well as the scramble for affordable housing in the city.The fire highlighted failures in Oakland’s fire inspection system as well as the scramble for affordable housing in the city.
Mr. Harris, interviewed two days after the fire, had blamed the fire on an electrical system which he described as being in disarray. Efforts to have the owner update the system went unheeded, he said. Mr. Harris, interviewed two days after the fire, had attributed the fire to an electrical system which he described as being in disarray. Efforts to have the owner update the system went unheeded, he said.
“We reached out on multiple occasions, complaining that the power wasn’t working,” Mr. Harris said at the time. “They made no attempt to make it right. The landlord was only interested in trying to collect money for electricity.”“We reached out on multiple occasions, complaining that the power wasn’t working,” Mr. Harris said at the time. “They made no attempt to make it right. The landlord was only interested in trying to collect money for electricity.”