One thing that makes America so special is that it is fertile ground for the growth of the artistic community. This is especially true in New York City. Manhattan and the surrounding areas are knowing for an accepting and cultivating environment for artists. It's not an uncommon thing for artist colonies to spontaneously emerge in different parts of the city. However, there are some intrinsic dangers when a community is not planned but develops organically. Many times, these locations are off the grid and mostly 'unofficial.' That means they are not on the radar of the legal departments of the city, and therefore, are often not compliant with safety regulations. While a great place for artistic genius to grow and thrive, they sometimes can present a threat to themselves and the surrounding neighborhoods. This was the sad case of the Ghost Ship Warehouse in Oakland, California.
Oakland became the home to an artist collective known as the Ghost Ship. The Ghost Ship Artistic Collective took over the space in a warehouse, and many artists created as well as took up residence there. However, due to many present dangers, a tragic fire erupted on December 2, 2016, at 11:20 pm, during a rave music show. It is believed that an electric malfunction was the cause of this fire, as there was no real supervision to see that the building adhered to legal and safety codes. An LA Times article stated that the whole place was somewhat 'jerry-rigged.'
What was supposed to be a night of entertainment for those at the warehouse ended up being a night of tragedy. The fire burned out of control, and the lives of 36 individuals were lost. Many realized they had no chance of survival, and their remains were found in an embrace with others during their last moments. Because there were no automatic fire extinguishers, no fire alarms, no working fire extinguishers, inadequate fire exits, and blocked paths to the exits that did exist - it is no surprise that so many people lost their lives.
Who is to blame is a conversation that can go in many directions, but certainly, the fact that the Ghost Ship hadn't been inspected in 30 years and that the owner was unwilling to bring the building up to legal standards surely played a role. Certainly, a building in that condition should not have able to house residents as well as any kind of public gatherings. Throughout the years, the condition of the Ghost Ship had been communicated to authorities, especially concerning issues with garbage, illegal conduct, its use as a residential building as well as its overgrown and wild outdoor condition.
Inside the building was not much better. Clearly, the building had construction and electrical work done by unskilled individuals; not only that but flammable materials such as wood, furniture, and junk were strewn through the building as well. When the fire took place, the debris that filled the building also blocked the exits. Trying to hurdle those blockages used up critical escape time, resulting in the loss of life.
We should take many warnings from this tragedy. First, it is vital that any building where the public gathers is in compliance with fire codes and laws. When those regulations are violated, the dangers spread beyond the building out into the community. These laws are in place for a reason, and if they're ignored, the chance of survival in a fire is drastically and significantly reduced.
Flameproofing is one of those life-saving laws in place by the FDNY. It's required that, in all public gathering locations, objects used for decoration and artistic enhancement be coated with flame repellents. There's a reason why the FDNY requires things like curtains, drapes, carpets, upholstery, and decorations be flameproofed. In the case of the Ghost Ship, the intensity of the fire, as well as the damage done, would likely have been significantly reduced. Flameproofing also would have provided that critical time needed for those inside to escape.
If you have questions about FDNY requirements for businesses or flameproofing, give us a call. Certified Flameproofing is here to answer questions, address concerns, and assist you in designing a fire safety strategy. As an industry expert in NYC and the Greater Metro NY area for over 5 decades, we are happy and qualified to serve you! Call today: 800-590-5530