Some of the victims of the Oakland fire that consumed a residential warehouse Tuesday managed to send text messages to their loved ones before they died.
“I love you,” one of the victims said in a text, according to a local sheriff’s spokesman who briefed reporters Tuesday. Another victim texted, “I’m going to die.”
Rescue crews have been working their way through the gutted warehouse where more than 30 people died in the fire that began during a dance party. The spokesman said the crews found the remains of people “protecting each other, holding each other.”
Crews have cleared 85 percent of the “Ghost Ship” building, which housed a number of artists and was used to host events. Most of the families of the 36 victims found in the warehouse have been notified, while nine others have only been “tentatively identified” by authorities. One of the individuals has not been identified.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire; the building was not up to code. The district attorney said murder charges could possibly be filed depending on what authorities find.
The founder of the building said he thought the building was up to code on the “Today Show” Tuesday. “I’m only here to say one thing, that I’m incredibly sorry and that everything that I did was to make this a stronger and more beautiful community and to bring people together.”
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