Oakland Continues To Mourn After Ghost Ship Fire
OAKLAND (CBS13) -- Like so many, underground artist and Oakland baswd writer, Leorna Lutz, is mourning with her city.
"I decided to come out and look at the scene for a little bit of closure," she said.
Lutz knew some of the artists who were living in the Ghost Ship, the Oakland warehouse turned into an artist studio and possibly an illegal home for a dozen or more artists.
The warehouse went up in flames Friday night during a late night dance party, as the roof collapsed onto the second floor. Over 200 people were in attendance - 33 people are now confirmed dead.
"Our first priority is the humane and compassionate removal of the victims of this tragedy," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf at a midday news conference on Sunday.
City officials predict the death toll to continue to rise as work crews, using just buckets and shovels, slowly make their way through the building and debris.
"They've not all in one area. We thought that going into the this, that maybe they would all be in one area. But we are fining people throughout the entire structure," explained Sgt. Ray Kelly with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
Makeshift memorials have popped near the warehouse site.
Anxious family members have been working with grief councilors at the Family Assistance Center setup by the city.
And as the recovery efforts continue around the clock, some of the survivors, like Nikki Kelber, who lived in the warehouse, are not only mourning the loss of innocence lives, but trying to figure how to rebuild their lives as well.
"Then there is the absolute terror of how do you start over and rebuild when you have absolutely nothing," said Kelber.
The Alameda County District Attorney has activated a criminal investigation team. They will look into the history of the warehouse and if criminal charges can bring brought against the owner.