30 confirmed dead in Oakland warehouse fire - The search for survivors continues

'It was filled end to end with furniture, whatnot, collections. It was like a maze, almost.'

A deadly fire broke out in an Oakland, CA warehouse at about 11:32 p.m. Friday night.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Oakland Fire Department responded immediately but the warehouse was a series of artist studios and was in the midst of a party when the blaze broke out.

Thirty bodies have been recovered but firefighters have admitted most of the warehouse has yet to be cleared.

Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed reported between 50 and 100 people were within the warehouse when the fire began.

Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office warned "the number of victims will rise" due to the conditions of the warehouse, the amount of fire and smoke ravaging the building and the large number of people within its walls.

The roof collapsed onto the second floor, part of which tore off and fell onto the ground floor.

The warehouse was without a sprinkler system and first responders reported they did not hear any alarms upon arrival.

Sadly, the studios were packed with furniture, mannequins and other artistic items that obstructed the firefighters' efforts to douse the flames or reach survivors.

"It was filled end to end with furniture, whatnot, collections. It was like a maze almost," Sgt. Kelly reported.

Melinda Drayton, the Battalion Chief at the Oakland Fire Department, reported firefighters were going through debris "bucket by bucket."

She was fighting tears as she stated: "It was quiet, it was heartbreaking. This will be a long and arduous process. We don't believe we have even gotten close to the origin of the fire."

The search for bodies will continue for the next 48 hours and firefighters have been taking every precaution to treat the bodies of the victims with respect.

Only three of the thirty bodies have been identified by loved ones as identification has proven difficult.

The real tragedy is the fire could have been prevented.

Oakland's Planning Department reported it had opened an investigation into the warehouse las month when neighbors began to complain about trash and the large number of residents, both of which are against building regulations.

Former resident Shelley Mack shared the building was "like a horror house" and did not have electricity or running water.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf told ABC she ordered an investigation into the building's history, including a complete review of all complaints.

She ordered an independent analysis into the city's handling of the building as well as other buildings in similar circumstances.

Chief Drayton shared firefighters have been deeply impacted on an emotional level by the bodies they have discovered.

Musical instruments, artistic materials and a broken roof hang around firefighters' heads as they painstakingly work to clear rubble and douse smoldering objects.

Preliminary investigations revealed the flames were not born of arson and were actually the result of an electrical fire.

The power died once the fire started and Ghost Ship only had one exit, which was blocked by the smoky flames.

Derick Ion founded the Ghost Ship Artist Collective and ran the warehouse but was not able to be reached for comment.

The residents lived illegally in the building, which is classified as a warehouse, and Ion released a statement Saturday morning.

"Confirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone," Ion wrote. "Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound...it's as if I have been awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope...to be standing now in poverty of self worth."

Needless to say, his selfish response to the numerous deaths were met with extreme backlash.

In recent years, Oakland's warehouses have become popular hubs for artists and musicians, despite the unsafe living conditions.

The Oakland Fire Department confirmed they are currently working with several agencies to prevent similar disasters.

The Oakland Fire Department is working with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County Search and Rescue and the American Red Cross, among several others.

Chief Kelly asked the public to remain patient as authorities investigate further and continue to search for the missing and the dead.

Meanwhile, firefighters continue to empty the Ghost Ship of debris in its search.

"This is the most deadly fire in Oakland Fire's history that I'm aware of," Fire Chief Drayton admitted.

The party residents celebrated was posted to an event page online, where many have offered sympathy posts and well-wishes to survivors.

On Saturday, many used the page in hopes of finding information about their loved ones who had been in attendance.

According to NPR, authorities plan to release the names of victims who have been identified later on Sunday.

So far, no names have been released.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire and the safety record of the building is being closely evaluated.

Meanwhile, please pray for the dead and for those who are affected by this tragedy.

Prayer for the Dead

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.

In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.

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