Transcripts For KGO ABC7 News 400PM 20161206 : comparemela.c

Transcripts For KGO ABC7 News 400PM 20161206

Its been pretty grim. Reporter i have, eric, and ama, good evening to you. A lot of news is happening here today. As you look behind me you saw the live picture from 7 hd and behind me you see the burned out hole that was the ghost ship warehouse thats sadly become a tomb for 36 people and they do expect that number to go up as they search the rest of the building. Work has stopped at front of the building out of fear that there could be a potential for collapse. One wall was fairly unstable so they are worried about that, and its not just because of danger to the firefighters either, but also to preserve the area as potential criminal evidence. Thats an important phrase, criminal evidence. This morning crews pulled free three more bodies totaling as i said 36 killed by the fire. They have now searched 75 of the building, and they expect that they may find more victims as well. Tonight work could continue in areas closed because of potential danger. They hope that they will be able to get back to work searching the rest of the building. A News Conference wrapped up here less than an hour ago ten feet from where im standing. My colleague, abc 7 News Reporter Laura Anthony was attending that News Conference, and is here with the latest information on the investigation and the recovery effort. Laura . Well, thats right, dan. We also saw some images as to what it looks like inside that building. And recovery effort, search and recovery effort continues. Because of some concern about the front wall they have been working mostly in the back area of the building. We understand that that work began again this morning at about 9 00. Let show you some video from sky 7. What we shot this morning. This is the building as it looks at this point with the roof completely collapsed. The death toll holds steady at 36. It lists three of the victims from outside the united states, including, were told taiwan, guatemala and finland. Among the assets that have been brought in to help with this search and recovery effort, a giant crane, but first pg e had to cut off power to the immediate area. That happened just within the past hour, and, again, at this point they think they have searched most of this gutted structure. Very carefully as it is also a potential crime scene. We owe it to the community, to those who perished in this fire and to those who survived the fire to be methodical, to be thorough and to take the amount of time it takes to be able to look at every piece of potential evidence. Theres two areas of concern that we still have, and and at this time we cant locate any any other deceased victims, but we are prepared to remove them if the Fire Department and atf do locate them. Reporter the firefighters and search crews inside the building, they are literally going through the debris bucket by bucket. Its to preserve evidence and whatever human remains might still be inside that building. They are taking those buckets and they are putting them in dump trucks and then taking them to a site off site to go through them a second time even more carefully. Now, there are two key areas that they have yet to be able to search. One of them, were told, is a stage area on the second floor. Theres also another area near the front of the building which is the area they cant search just yet. There are some windows in that area, and theres suspicion there may be more victims there, but if theres any good news in all of this, dan, it is that the sheriff greg ahern said this afternoon he does not expect a huge number, his words, of additional victims, that they feel like they have recovered most of the bodies. They do have a list of folks that are miss mc, Something Like 50, but he suspects that many of those were not at this party or in this building on friday night, so they may be more victims, but as he said not a huge number. Back to you. Well, we can at least be thankful for that, laura. We can at least be thankful for that, laura, if that is the case. Lets hope that they do not find any more bodies at all, but certainly not a significant number of bodies. Now we now know the names of three Major Players in regards to the warehouse and the event that took place. Ch ng owns the building and lease it had to an artist collective owned by deric ion almena who rented it out to different artists who worked and lived in this structure. Jon hrabko was one of the promoters of the party. Oakland City Council Officials exnaekt there was no special permit for this event hand thats why a criminal investigation is ongoing. We were able to speak exclusively with the owner of the man who operated this building, deric ion almena. We did track him down and he was criticized for a Facebook Post where he didnt make any reference to the victims and hes since deleted his Facebook Page and he smoke to us briefly in oakland, and its an interview youll see only on abc 7. People have been wondering if you have anything to say to them. They are my children. They were my friends, they are my family, my loves hand my future. What else do i have to say . Now, since ion did not have a permit fire Officials Say criminal charges are a very real possibility, even if the cause of the fire was accidental. Thee was a lot of investigating being done here in addition to this recovery effort. Everything being preserved for a potential criminal case in this matter. Again, there has been a lot of news and a lot of developments here on the scene at 31st and international boulevard at the site of this ghost ship warehouse tragedy. More to come here at 4 00, but lets go back to eric and ama. Thank so much. The abc 7 inews began reporting about a long trail of complaints against the warehouse and the dangerous conditions there. There are new questions tonight about the actions the city took or failed to take that could have saved lives. Dan noyes is back with the iteam investigation. The iteam has confirmed six complaints were filed against the ghost ship warehouse site in just the past two years. Now, these are photos of what the city called blight alternate location and yet on at least two occasions inspectors unable to go inside the building to see dangerous conditions. Pictures show the mishmash of arts and debris and all the random wiring throughout the building. I spoke with a former nanny for the man who ran the ghost time deric ione almena. It was more like this place is dangerous overall it. Wasnt i mean, just the amount of stuff that was in there and where it was place the. I mean, there was nails coming out of the ground, the staircase that a lot of people are hearing about. That was a real thing. The makeshift staircase. This photo shows the staircase where firefighters say many of the victims became trapped. Coming up at 6 00, a neighbor tells me his family complained to the city repeatedly over the past two years about the parties and dangers at that site, and youll hear our new interview with the planning and building department. They are trying to figure out how they problems continued for so long and were not seriously addressed and ended in this tragedy. Ama and eric. Really disturbing. Thanks a lot. Were learning so much today about those who died in the fire. So far 33 victims of the 36 killed in the fire have been identified. Three of the dead are from outside the u. S. , south korea, finland and guatemala. Abc 7 News Reporter Jessica Castro has a closer look. Reporter all of these victims were young, and they have something in common. They all loved the arts, and i want to show you new pictures that weve received of david klein, 24 years old. He lived in oakland, and recently graduated from uc berkeley in computer science. His brother in a statement wrote, quote, david was an incredible man and an amazing brother, a perfect son and an inspiring friend to everyone who was fortunate enough to have him in their lives. He described david as, quote, kind, open, nonjudgmental and excited about life. His brother signed the note, quote, david, we love you forever. 32yearold Donna Kellogg recently graduated from San Francisco state. She was an avid drummer and loved the outdoors and cooking. Brandon chase witnouer described by friends on facebook as a talented mourn yafn the 32yearold lived in cities across california and abroad in nicaragua for two years. One friend wrote he what is a genuine guy. Travis huff, 35 years old on facebook and friends describe him as a musical genius. He was in a band called ghost of lightning that released an album this year under an independent label. Nick hull, a friend wrote the this morning, he was a positive influence on everyone he met. 259yearold was a world traveler. Cash askew, part of a musical duo named them are us, too. Their sound club website shows they had a gig fwhookd argentina for next year. The bands Facebook Page has been flooded with messages in the last two days, and last lit 17yearold who died mentioned often in the notes in the makeshift memorials. He has been identified as dravin mcgill who attended the school of the arts in San Francisco and School Officials sent out a statement confirming the death earlier this morning. Well continue to pass along information as we get it. Jessica castro, abc 7 news. Also among victims, 30yearold walnut creek resident sarah head whoorks was a teacher at the Montessori School in oakland. More about her coming up later this hour. President barack obama is offering prayers to the victims families and the people of oakland hand thanks to First Responders for their tireless work. In a statement mr. Obama said oakland is one of the most diverse and christ cities in our country and its families and residents pulled together in the wake of this awful tragedy. They will have the unwavering support of the american people. The president also promised authorities everything they need operationally and in their investigation. Coming up on abc 7 news at 4 00, the dangers of buildings like the ghost ship. A closer look at the conditions inside the building and what investigators are facing in the search. And the impact on businesses in the neighborhood surrounding we are live from the warehouse in oakland where 36 people were killed in a fire that started late friday. The scene is right over my shoulder here. Searchers have gone through 75 of the building right now. They are unsure if any more bodies will be found. The slightly encouraging news weve heard here late today, just within the hour, is that they dont think there will be a large number of victims still to be found if they do in fact find anyone else. They think they have recovered most of the victims, but they still expect there may be more. The work stopped because of structural concerns here behind me for the time being, but they have been working all day to fix that situation right now. Crews are working in the back of the warehouse and investigating areas where the fire could have started. Of course, they all want to know why and how it started . It is all being done carefully to preserve potential criminal evidence in that tragedy. The District Attorney said late this afternoon if her office pursues charges, they could range from Involuntary Manslaughter to murder. And the warehouse where this tragedy happened is known as the ghost ship. This is in reepts years it was a twostory haven for artists who lived and worked there. We will have some photographs of what it looked like that you can see from its website. Packed with makeshift studios, workshops, residences, cramped with pianos, couch eds, beds and furniture. Now, lets take an aerial view from google earth of the area surrounding the ghost ship before the fire. Its a mixed use neighborhood with homes, shops hand warehouses in oaklands fruitvale district right where im standing. Heres how it looked on the ground from googles street view. You can see the debris strewn in front of the building, something that weve heard neighbors complaining about. Last month the city of oakland in fact also issued a notice regarding a blight concern. They started zeroing in on the point where the fire started but they have not made a final determination on what started it. That could take some time they spoke with officials about the next step. As a Police Officer told me saturday night, thats why we have fire codes. Reporter he knows exactly how fast fires can spread and how deadly they can be especially in enclosed spaces. In the first moments after the fire people who survived describe an inferno. Some tried to get others out. I was going back to get my camera and my computer and another member of the collect ive had broken his aingele and was calling out for help. Reporter this expert says how quickly the room can become smoke filled. They make a wrong turn, instead of turning to the left they turn to a right and end up in a dead end closet and die. Reporter ghost ship warehouse has been described as a labyrinth of shared living and performance spaces. There was all manner of materials inside, carpets, wood, glue, paint for art projects, a deadly combination. In an enclosure, the hot gases that youre producing anywhere in the rom go to the ceiling and start filling the ceiling out and now the raid yntant heat from the ceiling layer is driving the fire. Reporter in the ghost ship fire ceiling collapsed. As the recovery effort continues for people who die dehaene says cities across the bay area should learn some lessons on Code Enforcement and those who live, work and play in spices like this also need to have a plan in case something goes wrong. When i go into a restaurant or party or whatever, im finding the table closest to the exits because i know ill have a better chance to get out. And if some place doesnt look safe leave. Sergio quintana, abc 7 news. Clearly this scene was not safe on friday night when this happened with really very little chance for so many trapped inside to get out, so a number of things happening here today. Its still very much a recovery effort, but its also shifting primarily now to a criminal investigation to see exactly what and how and i am this terrible tragedy happened. More to come here from this scene at the ghost ship warehouse. Ama and eric, lets go back for you. Thanks so much, dan. The oakland warehouse is the scene of a deadliest blaze at a music venue in the u. S. Since 2003. A fire at the station nightclub in west warrick, rhode island killed 100 people. Pyrotechnics used by the band great white set fire to foam inside the club and the deadliest fire killed 492 people at bostons Coconut Grove in 1942. That blaze led to the requirement of sprinkler systems and exits. Internationally the deadliest music fire happened when a welding accident killed 309 people at a disco in a central chinese city. The fire is having a big impact on bitses around the warehouse that burned down. Authorities have closed off several blocks of international boulevard leaving many buses off limits including a wendys thats being used as a command center. Employees had to be escorted in just to retrieve personal items. Street closure has shut down a Health Clinic and is hurting stores depending on yearend sales. It is going to be bad. Have to cancel some dentistry appointments and psychology appointments. People need it. Authorities Say International boulevard could reopen by wednesday or possibly the end of the week. Of course, well have much more on the fire and what we heard today at the News Conference coming up in the newscast and right now how about a look at the weather. Drew tuma is in for spencer. Drew . Cold air is arriving tomorrow and then the return of rain starting on wednesday. Live doppler 7 showing its a quite picture out there. No rain overhead and a significant amount of cloud cover throughout the day has really limited how warm we have gotten today. Were stuck in the 50s. Lets show you whats happening on your tuesday. Early on in the morning were track the chance of an isolated sprinkle. A weak wave of energy will move through, and it wont be widespread wet weather. By noont clouds stay intact, and by afternoon very similar temperatures to where we are right now pretty much topping out in the low to mid50s so a cool day on the way tuesday and in the wake of that weak piece of Energy Moving through in the morning, that will bring even cooler air by wednesday morning. So wednesday will be a frosty morning. We do expect widespread 30s across the region midweek here. That means areas of frost are very likely and take your nets and if they are inside cover your plants because they are susceptible to the cold temperatures this time of the year. Future weather will show you the return of wet weather. Wednesday at 3 00, a 1, a light storm on the storm impact scale first moves into the north bay and after sunset we do expect the rain to expand in coverage. By 8 00 were seeing light showers across the majority of the bay area, and this rain does not let up. Looks to continue early in the day on thursday and even a thursday morning rush and by 7 00 in the morning still tracking light showers and then on thursday the storm will actually intensify and it will be upgraded to a 2, a moderate storm on the storm impact scale. Future weather showing you by the evening hours we do expect downpours to develop and this could linger into friday as well. We do expect high amounts in the north bay, as much as 2 1 2 inches and 1 to 2 inches through friday. The south bay will see rainfall a little bit less than that nearing half han inch of rain in the santa cruz mountains. Could see as much as 3 inches. An isolated sprinkle tomorrow morning. Not widespread. A chilly day and rain arrives in the evening and lasting all day thursday and intensifying and lingering friday and were looking at another chance of wet weather coming in on sunday. Drew, thank you. Sure. A series of smashandgrab robberies all at apple senators an East Palo Alto police have arrested a man for the murder of a little girl. It was the mothers livein boyfriend. The 2yearolds death was originally ruled suspicious, but after an autopsy it found she died because of foul play. Police beg

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