Oakland's Fire Department will overhaul its inspection procedures and double the number of fire inspectors in response to two massive and deadly fires in recent months in buildings that had inadequate safety measures.
When making the announcement, the city also released emails revealing that fire department officials sought safety improvements at the site of the latest deadly fire in a transitional housing facility, but were unable to reach the property owner.
That fire killed four people and displaced dozens, many of whom were coping with issues related to housing, mental health or substance abuse. Many of the displaced victims remain in a makeshift shelter at the West Oakland Youth Center on Market Street.
“This crisis is very different from Ghost Ship in that our survivors and victims are extremely poor, and many lack family and other supports that helped organize a community response and fundraising,” said City Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney, who missed last week’s City Council meeting to assist at the shelter.
“These families are going to need financial support, housing and the ability to access mental health care, especially those who may not qualify for county aid,” she said.
According to the city, the overhaul of fire inspection procedures was already underway after December’s Ghost Ship fire, when 36 were killed at a party in an unsanctioned live-work space at a Fruitvale warehouse.
Mayor Libby Schaaf said the city is hiring six additional inspectors as quickly as possible to double the staff of the fire department’s fire prevention bureau.
“We must expose the reckless property owners who are putting profits above safety," said Schaaf in a statement on Friday. "The two tragic fires over the last months highlight the critical importance of leadership, training, technology and staffing at our Fire Department; today’s actions address those needs."
The city revealed earlier this week that the San Pablo Avenue building had failed a fire inspection just days before the fire. An inspector documented broken alarms, sprinklers and emergency lighting, a lack of fire extinguishers and tenants who were running extension cords through hallways instead of using wall outlets.
Emails released today revealed that the city was concerned about fire hazards in the building since at least January 8, when OFD Capt. Richard Chew observed several fire hazards while responding to the building on a medical call. A day later, Capt. Chris Landry wrote that the fire department had just re-inspected the property and found more violations.
“For these reasons, I recommend that we consider shutting this building down immediately due to the danger to life safety,” Chew wrote in January.
The fire department returned to the building at least three more times in February and March, finally conducting a walk-through with the owner on March 24. Three days later, a four-alarm fire gutted the building. The fire was determined to have started accidentally by a candle.
