Fridge could have caused deadly warehouse fire, officials say
A probe into a warehouse fire that killed 36 people in Oakland, California, is investigating the possibility that a refrigerator or other appliance was the source of the blaze.
Jill Snyder, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' San Francisco office, said it is too early to say for sure a fridge caused the blaze but it was a potential source.
Investigators are look at anything electrical on the first floor of the warehouse near where the fire started, she said.
"We have no indication that this was intentionally set," she added.
The fire at the Ghost Ship converted warehouse, that broke out during a dance party on Friday night, is the worst in the city's history.
More than one thousand people gathered on Monday at Lake Merritt Pergola for a flameless candlelit vigil illuminated with LED lights.
On Tuesday, family members gathered at makeshift a memorial site for victims of the fire.
Crews have searched at least 90% of the building for bodies, and do not believe any more bodies will be found, officials said.
Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sergeant Ray Kelly said that some of the victims texted relatives, "I'm going to die," and "I love you."
Rescue crews found bodies of people "protecting each other, holding each other," Kelly said.
On Tuesday, the founder of the arts collective Derick Ion Almena stood near the gutted building.
He told reporters: "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."