alameda. now from abc 7 live breaking news. it's 4:00 in the afternoon. we're tracking a tragedy. oakland's worst fire since the oakland fire storm in 1991. thank you for being here. i'm natasha zouves. >> a devastating fire rips through a warehouse. dozens of people were packed inside. nine people are confirmed dead in the worst fire disaster in decades, as we told you. sky 7 video shows the horrific aftermath. first responders say the roof collapsed on top of the second floor then the second floor collapsed down to the first floor. dozens of people are still missing. >> oakland mayor spent all morning consoling grieving families. >> it's a devastating scene. this is complicated and it's going to take us time to do the methodical, thorough, and professional investigation that these families deserve. >> taking you live to sky 7 over

that scene. you can see what remains there. crews say they'll remain at the scene for at least the next 48 hours. a grim task of recovering and trying to identify the victims. >> sergeant ray kelley with the sheriff's department said the focus needs to be on the families. it's too soon to talk about specific numbers of people who are unaccounted for. >> it's uncertain, but there are a couple dozen more people we still have to identify. to find out what -- i know that everybody wants a number and we don't know. we expect the number of deceased to go up. how far, i don't know. we're expecting the worst. maybe a couple dozen victims here. we've met with a room full of people and they're holding out hope until they hear. families hold out hope until

they hear the final word that maybe their loved one is gone. it's a sensitive time. i think the mayor said it best that there's two parts to the case. there's what's going on now. the families, the sensitivity we have to have toward the famil s families, and moving forward later on and the questions you're asking now about this dwelling. [ inaudible question ] >> there were a lot of people in this building. i don't have an answer as to how many victims there are at point. we can only confirm nine based on the limited access we have to the building. >> we heard the recovery effort resumed in the last 10 or 15 minutes. >> they told us they would keep us updated on what happened. we understand there's another news conference about to begin. these pictures from sky 7. emergency officials are moving through the debris. you can see how tightly packed in things are there.

i don't know if this is the exact state before the fire began but it's difficult now, as you can see, for them to navigate their way through there. >> the last update, i believe, was around 2:30 in the afternoon. at that time, they confirmed nine people were dead. they were not going forward with a recovery effort. we know the recovery effort since resumed. at this point they only managed to pull one body from the warehouse. we're waiting for the press conference to begin with the latest update. >> that's on the left side of the screen. you see officer watson with the oakland police department there. she's been sort of the face of the news conference and the investigation as it has begun, but other officials are there, as well. to the left sergeant ray kelley, you heard from, is with the alameda county coroner's bureau. they'll bear the brunt as they try to recover and identify victims of the deadly fire. >> there's a family center set up at another location. families and friends are asked

to not come to this location. he mentioned earlier this morning it was an makeshift situation and he promises now that center will be able to provide better information and real time information to families. we're showing you sky 7 live again now over that warehouse where the recovery effort resumed. some people are standing on the roof. they were passing down wooden -- what am i trying to say? pieces of plywood in the area to make it safe. when they first went in the whole structure was shaking. you see that area beams collapsed. certainly dangerous and pearl lou peril louse. >> there's much to do at the scene. after that there's a lot to do in terms of leg work. we'll get back to that in a moment. sergeant ray kelley with alameda sheriff's department coroner's bureau setting up the microphones to give the latest

on the investigation. hopefully can tell us more about what they've been able to do in terms of getting inside that building and identifying what happened inside there. mayor libby shaft spending time with the families and promising to deliver as much information as quickly as we could to the public but saying the families would know first as these victims were being pulled and identified protecting that dignity and making sure they were the first to know. >> she promised a methodical and professional investigation. >> sergeant kelley. we're back to give you an update. we'll give you another update at 6:00 p.m. tonight. right now we have started recovery operations again. at this point, we've recovered four deceased people from inside there. we are in the process of bringing in heavy equipment and we're going bring in a crane. we're going to bring in some tractors and bulldozers and excavating equipment. there's a lot that is on the west side of this building

adjacent to us that we're going to have to completely empty out. we'll then have to cut a whole through the building, and get in that way. and we're almost -- we're pretty much being blocked at the entrance. we have to breach the building at another point to gain access that way. so that has slowed things down. we continue to have our family assistance center up. it's actually functioning very well now. we just talked to the mayor, and she's going back over there to meet with the families again. oakland police department has some updates regarding the activity in this part of the city and what is going to go on for the next 48 hours. we'll anticipate we'll be here at least through sunday maybe early monday morning. we'd like to get that -- this place back functioning as quickly as possible. the officer watson will talk about that. >> okay. >> thank you, sergeant kelley.

for the evening until monday morning, this will be our media staging area. if you're already here, we will not change this location. if you anticipate coming here, the location is 30th street international. entrance from 30th on to international will be the ingress and egress. we're media staging for briefings until monday morning. we'll assess then, at that time. additionally tomorrow morning at 8:00 we'll hold a media availability. the media availability will provide any updated information that had occurred over the evening or over this evening. if there's a significant development tonight, anything significant that we want to push out to media and to our community, we'll certainly come back to you. we'll have a pio available throughout the evening. after our 6:00 briefing that will be the last briefing until 8:00 tomorrow morning where we'll have media availability.

okay. again, if you have not provided us with your contact information, please do. we want to push information out to everyone. not only local media but national media. we also have international media. we want to provide any answers, information to not only our community, the families, loved ones, anyone who has a connection to this unfortunate incident. thank you very much. [ inaudible question ] >> no, no. that's four of the confirmed nine that we know about. and as i had stated earlier, we expect the death toll from this event to rise. so we're working with families right now that are missing loved ones. and we've seen these events take place throughout the country over the years, and it's a very

trying time for them. so we're working with those families. we have counselling and support set up. the red cross has been -- i can't tell you how great the red cross has been in helping us out. so right now we're working hard. we'll give you an update at 6:00. in the meantime, we'll be here doing our job and dealing with these families. that's where our efforts are focussed. we're going to make multiple points of entry so we can get in spots we can't get into now. so this is very bad wreckage. very twisted debris in there and it's very hard to describe. it's like a maze. there's wires and beams and metal and wood. it's all fallen on top of each other. there's places and crevices we can't get into. we're talking about maybe bringing in can dever dogs to

help us out. using remote technologies to get into spots that are tight. there's a lot of work going on. we're going to use technology to our advantage here to make sure that we get to every spot in that building. >> sergeant kelley, how -- >> quite a bit, and that process will continue as we move forward. so the shoring and the engineering people are constantly working in there as we are inside. so they don't stop what they're doing. they're constantly reinforcing and moving as they slowly enter into the structure. [ inaudible question ] there's several people. there's -- fire personnel are experts in this field. they do this every day. and we have our search and rescue people here who are experts in getting into those tight spaces. they deal with urban rescue and collapses and things like that. so we have all the experts we need here to get the job done. it's very time consuming.

>> reporter: so the numbers -- bodies recovered and additional -- [ inaudible question ] >> four is total. >> reporter: what other parts of the building are going to be the back and sides? >> we'll reach in from the west side of the building. so toward the track here's. we'll have to move -- well bring in debris boxes and excavators. we'll breach holes through the building that will allow us access. while doing it, of course, we have to worry about the structure integrity so that nothing collapses on our people inside. so there's a lot [ inaudible question ] the building how it is now is not necessarily how it was at the time. right. so a lot of those windows have been broken out on purpose to battle the fire. and there's been holes poked in

things and so a lot of what you see now is the part of the recovery efforts. [ inaudible question ] >> no, there is not, at this time. we're literally taking fingerprints now, as we speak. we're rushing those fingerprints to our central identification bureau and doing it, like, the minute we roll fingerprints we're taking them down to get them identified. we're contacting families doing that information to notificatio families. that's done very, you know, very systemically and respectfully to the families. so we're going to go slow. but especially get a victim out we're identifying them with fingerprints. if they're available. you have to remember not everybody has fingerprints on file. we have to go to other means of identification. that's where it's important to have that connection to the families when you start getting into that. >> reporter: do you have any information on the size of --

>> no. i don't. the fire chief had explained earlier there were two entrances or exits to this building. there has been reports that maybe there was a third entrance that was someone had cut a whole through a wall that they used to get in between buildings. but that's not a, you know, something that everyone would know about that was inside the structure. so there's two known entrances and exits. if there were others, you know, hasty-made exits most people probably wouldn't know that. [ inaudible question ] >> one is in the front. i'm not sure but i think there may be one in the back, from what i understand. >> reporter: you mentioned the nine. >> nine total that we've identify so far. you have to remember there's all that debris. floors have collapsed on top of floors. the roof collapsed on top of the second floor.

that second floor collapsed down into the first floor. there's what i would imagine possibly more victims in that wreckage. so that's why we're using the technology and the people to get into those spots. [ inaudible question ] >> at least a couple dozen. at least a couple dozen people that we need to figure out their whereabouts. >> sergeant kelley, you identified the four you brought out? >> not yet. we're running the fingerprints down now. >> is there a central location for the families to meet? >> yeah. we've posted that information. it's on east 12th. our family assistance center. it's at 2425 east 12th. the number and all that has been posted many times online. it's readily available. they can call our number 510-382-3000. someone will answer it. we'll be back at 6:00. that's all we have for now. thank you. >> thank you. you've heard the latest news

update from alameda county sheriff's sergeant -- slipped my air. we've been on the air for a long time. >> ray kelley. >> talking about the recovery effort which has begun, again. after they had to shore up the building. it was unstable following this huge fire with three alarms, and, of course, as you've been hearing nine people are dead at least 25 missing. they recovered four bodies out of the nine and they're being finger printed now. as soon as they're being fingerprinted that's being run to the lab for analysis so they can positively identify the bodies of those they have recovered to this point. >> he's concerned perhaps there may not be any fingerprints on record for some of the people being recovered and pulled out of there. he said they're in the process of bringing in heavy equipment. crane, tractor, and bulldozers. exhave excavating equipment into the year. they are using dogs and robots

to get into crevices. and the west side of the area, as we've been showing you, is completely emptied out. it's full of wood and debris. a hole will have to be cut in the building. he said inside it's hard to describe. the floors have collapsed on top of floors. it's like a amaze. people still unaccounted for. >> it will go on for awhile. the county sheriff's department is planning on being there at least until monday morning. it could take longer. there's a task force on the scene comprised of oakland police, alameda sheriff's department, coroner's bureau, atf is on the scene, as well. there are structure engineers to keep on top of the building and the condition at the time. you want to make sure the firefighters and first responders and investigators

inside aren't in danger from things collapsing on top of them. >> our hearts are breaking for the people in this situation. and the people waiting to hear news. alissa harrington is at the family center where people are congress grating. what is the latest? >> reporter: this is one of the substation here at 2425 east 12th street in oakland, which is off miller avenue. this is where families and friends are gathering to get information about they loved ones and also leave names and pictures and their information so they can be updated throughout the day. the red cross disaster relief team is here. we know that the salvation army dropped off food to feed about 50 people. there's also a sheriff chaplain. as you can imagine, it has been a very emotional day. we've seen people crying and hugging. running into the building desperate for answers. they're just in utter disbelief. i think the chance to speak with

a man looking for his girlfriend. he said she was at the event last night and hasn't heard from her today. i spoke with the family searching for a 22-year-old from san bruno. he was at the event with his girlfriend. they were spotted there last night right around -- >> infuriated that i'm not able to help. i want to be there. give me some gloves. let me find my brother. >> reporter: that was one of the family members speaking. as you heard, he was very emotional. he's looking for his dan vega looking for alex vega. his brother is not answering calls or texts and his car hasn't been moved since last night. that's one story out of so many. so many families looking for loved ones today. now, i also realize i have been to ghost ship before to cover a

story. it was back in 2014. there were some -- there was an arsonist who was hitting this area in oakland. one of the places he hit was the warehouse, which is also called satiauga art house. it was in september of 2014. this is video from the story. back then an arsonist damaged the outside of the warehouse and flames were coming in the windows while some of the artists were inside. some of them helped firefighters battle the flames with a garden hose. i remember when i was inside it was filled with art, blankets, so much wood, several wood beams and they were so worried the fire would destroy their art and the director told me he wanted to create a space for artists in oakland. as we know, this place has been destroyed. so many people unaccounted for. as we are learning, they are investigating the safety of this place.

if it was safe for people to be in there. alissa harrington, abc 7 news. >> thank you. abc 7 news reporter lilian kim is on piedmont avenue in oakland. they'll beholding a vigil about 40 minutes from now. >> reporter: they have been getting lots of calls from people in the community. inquirering about a special service for the fire victims or anyone else in which they can express their grief. in response, there will be an interface vigil service in the chooims chapel from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. tonight. the channpel is open before and after the vigil to give people a place to mourn and reflect. the chapel said, quote," it's a devastating loss to our community and thoughts and prayers go out to those affec d affected." say a prayer.

it's devastating. it's what we do. we reach out to the community. we get a lot of calls. we started this this morning so w're running around and getting everything together. we've been getting a lot of phone calls. i haven't been asked -- but, you know, a lot of people want to know what time to come or whatever. what can we bring? can they bring flowers or a candle? >> reporter: there will be memorial books available inside the lobby for anyone to stop by to write messages and leave condolences. those books will be given to family members of the victims after tonight the chapel will reopen at 8:30 tomorrow morning. live in oakland lilian kim abc 7 news. >> thank you. and there is a badge you can go ahead and share let people

know you're supporting them on abc 7 news facebook team. the warriors held a moment of siellence prior to tonight's game. and proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will support family assistance for oakland fire. located at 125 and 219. the raiders will hold a moment of siellence before tomorrow's mom gamhome game. i want to show you the facebook badge. it's been shared more than 400 times so far. love for our oakland. >> the caring site. the oakland a's promise to match up to $20,000 worth of donations. and at this point they're beyond that $21,200 for the fire relief. the money keeps pouring in and donations are coming in to a

couple of pages. >> yeah. this you caring page was set up after the fire happened. it was $10,000 goal and it surpassed it so quickly the goal has been raised to $100,000. you can see where it is now. $47,498. you can see the b.a.r.t. train passing through as they do periodically. this entire area at 31st and international cordoned off. it's not the place you want to go to either be a spectator or drive through. it's not happening now. it's going to be that way until further notice. so plan an alternate route and international boulevard is pretty busy in oakland. you can't get through there 31st now. you can see the tent set up to shield the bodies as their being processed and fingerprinted and try to be identified. four people were pulled from that warehouse so far. four bodies.

and that is four out of the nine they know of so far. still two dozen people, at least, unaccounted for. now they do not want families or friends of loved ones here to show up at this scene. they want you to go to 2425 east 12th street. they have that set up for the latest information for families. also, grief counsellors and a number you can call 510-382-3000. >> and as you know, we have reporters all over the story. we'll check in now with abc 7 news reporter who has been talking to people who are showing up at the fire scene. sergio? >> yeah. lots of people have been showing up so they can actually see the place where this fire actually happened. there are some people who know this venue very well. unfortunately, there are some people who have family who actually came to this music event last night. so they're trying to see if they were able to get out of there in one piece. let's goes ahead and show you pictures from sky 7. you can see from the air the

devastation of this fire. i can tell you that right now the sheriff's department's urban search and rescue crews are going through there and figuring out how they're going to shore up some of the walls from this building. because tnobody had been able t go in and recover four of the bodies. we know there are nine people in total so far they have found. and so there's still five more people to recover that we know of. they're going to be searching through to see if there are any others. there are two parts trying to dismantle now. first, of course, is the venue. the other part is the music event that was going on there last night from social media. we're learning it was something called the golden -- 100% silk 2016 west coast tour. people coming here have told us so far it was some sort of a electronic music event. and there's an underground event. a lot of people who came here only found out about where this musical event was supposed to be

yesterday. and then they showed up and went in. i was talking to a little bit about people coming here so they can see if their loved ones made it out. i talked with one woman who was desperately looking for her brother. >> i'm looking for my brother, eric, and his girlfriend chelsea. >> reporter: your car? >> yeah a red >> do you think many people would be able to fit in there? >> no. it's junky and there's a little space in the middle and there's couches and like little -- it's like little lounges, kind of. >> reporter: these are some pictures from inside of what we're being told is an artist's collective. it's also been described as a live and work space. you can see there's a lot of material inside that warehouse.

we're told by the city of oakland that it was permitted only as a warehouse. it was not a legal live and work space. so there's a lot of items that are in there and there are officials who knew there were people living there as well. we knew there were some complaints from a lot of neighbors about unsafe situations. also, parties that were going on at night. we've heard from the city council men who represents this particular neighborhood. he said people have known about this space for a long time. that's something that investigators are going to be looking into. i can tell you coming back here live, the first priority for the emergency crews here now is simply recovering the bodies still in that building. from there they're going to go through the forensics of trying to figure out how the fire started. and then they're going to be backtracking and looking into the permitting process or the lack of permitting process for this space and everything else

thereafter. reporting live in oakland abc 7 news. >>

and the breaking news is oakland's worst fire since the oakland hills fire storm of 1991. good afternoon. thank you for joining us. i'm eric thomas. we're monitoring the latest information as it connells in. the devastating fire that ripped through the warehouse housing. it was an artist collective. dozens of people were packed inside for a party. right now nine people confirmed dead. it's being called the worst fire disaster in the city of oakland in decades. >> the sky 7 video shows you the horrific aftermath. first responders say the ceiling collapsed on top of the second floor. the second floor then collapsed down on to the first floor. right now dozens of people are still missing. oakland mayor said she's spent all morning consoling families. >> it's a