Fire sarfety

Officials fear up to 40 dead in fire during concert at Oakland warehouse

Authorities said they would work through the night to recover more victims of a deadly fire that raced through a converted warehouse crowded with people attending a Friday night concert in Oakland.

Nine bodies have been recovered, but Alameda County sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Kelly said officials were prepared for up to 40 fatalities. He said many of those inside the warehouse were young, some from foreign countries. 

At an evening news conference, Kelly said that about two dozen people believed missing have been found. But at least two dozen remain missing, and officials believe the death toll will increase considerably as searchers make their way through the remains of the building. The building’s roof caved in, and debris will make the search effort difficult.