BY Bob Walsh
There was as very nasty fire in Oakland, CA last night. There are at least nine known dead and that total could double or triple. The fire took place in a converted warehouse that had been set up for artist studios and living space. There were no fire sprinklers or working smoke detectors. There was only one interior "makeshift" staircase. I am guessing that means the staircase was of wood, not enclosed in a stairless and did not have fire doors.
There was a rave party there last night. Something caught fire. The situation turned to shit real fast.
So far the Oakland fire department is being very quite about whether or not there is a criminal investigation under way, whether or not the building had an occupancy permit and had been inspected.
Maybe I am just paranoid but I actually look for things like stairwell access and fire safety when I enter a building, especially a converted one.
Would you live or willingly work in a building with only one wooden staircase going into the upper floor, with no other real emergency egress, and with no smoke detectors and no sprinklers?
EDITOR’S NOTE: To answer your question – yes, if I am desperately poor.
But the question in this case is not relevant. This was one of those rave parties where a lot of young people get drunk or stoned and no one thinks or cares about wooden staircases and emergency exits.
Saturday’s evening news on NBC reported that in addition to nine dead, 25 of the rave goers were missing.
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